"The production of honey is one of the chief sources of wealth to this
place, and the bee-hives deserve a passing notice. Each household
possesses some sixteen or twenty hives, arranged with marvellous
economy of space. The hive consists of a tube, of the diameter of a
large gas-pipe, about four feet long, made of sun-dried clay, and
laid longitudinally on the ground, four or five abreast. On these
are piled, according to the wealth of the owner, a cone of twelve or
fifteen more, forming a pyramid, and the whole plastered over with
mud. The apertures at each end of the tubes are likewise closed with
mud, leaving a small opening for the bees, exactly in the centre. A
bush is stuck into the ground at each end, to shade the hives and to
assist the bees in alighting. The produce of these spacious hives
must be enormous; and the bees are never killed, the hives being
simply robbed twice a year by the removal of the plaster at each end,
when the honey is drawn out by an iron hook. All portions of comb
containing young bees are carefully replaced; and on these hills, with
their short winter and abundance of aromatic herbs, nothing more is
required. Of course we invested in Palestine honey, which has all the
aromatic flavour of that of Hymettus or Hybla."--_Extracted from "A
Winter Ride in Palestine, by the Rev. H. B. Tristram," contained in
"Vacation Tourists; or, Notes on Travel in 1862-1863_."
[Illustration]