From Cedar to Hyssop
Appendix B
Wild Fruit
It is a surprise to Northerners to
see how little in the way of wild fruit is to be found. Deforestation accounts
for much, but such small fruits as exist – even the blackberries – are not very
palatable or plentiful. Therefore they do not figure much in folk lore.
The Hawthorn, Crataegus Azarolus, has
a 'haw' large enough to make good syrup and jellies, its name 'Zarur' is
often applied to a short man; it is also heard in the dancing song.
|
"Thus beat the Hawthorn tree |
Hek daqq el zarura |
|
O my uncle thus" |
Ya ammi hek. |
There is also the Strawberry Tree (Qaiqab)
and the Silverberry (Zeizafun) and children will eat the fruit of the
Hackberry (Meis) and many less attractive berries too; the acorns (Ballut)
from the oak, Quercus coccifera (Sindian; Balluta) have some
value, being boiled and eaten by the poor. there is a woman in Artas who makes her
living by gathering them.
'The Almond tree may be fairly
considered to be indigenous; the bitter tree is often found wild and the sweet
tree and the Apricot also can be grafted on to it. The almond is thought to be
Moses' rod which budded; Mohammed also used an almond stick, so it is lucky to
the carrier, and Musil says that a Bedouin bridegroom brings an almond stick
and a mejidi on his first visit to his bride.
The high value set on the almond tree
and a high regard for heredity are both indicated, if we understand aright in
the following amusing little verse from Artas.
Advice to a bachelor:
|
A plate of apricots |
Sahan el
mishmish |
|
Choose not |
La
tiknish |
|
Look for the almond tree |
Dawar
'ala el lozieh |
|
The pretty girl |
El bint
el chelabieh |
|
Take not |
La takhad
|
|
Look for the family tree. |
Damal' 'ala el aslieh |
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