Book 16
1.14
Babylonia produces barley in larger quantity than any otherHerod. i. 193. country, for a produce of three hundred-fold is spoken of. The palm tree furnishes everything else, bread, wine, vinegar, and meal; all kinds of woven articles are also procured from it. Braziers use the stones of the fruit instead of charcoal. When softened by being soaked in water, they are food for fattening oxen and sheep.
1.14
It is said that there is a Persian song in which are reckoned up 360 useful properties of the palm.
1.14
They employ for the most part the oil of sesamum, a plant which is rare in other places.
1.15
Asphaltus is found in great abundance in Babylonia. Eratosthenes describes it as follows.
