Note [original edition] : By the fig and the olive;]
God, say the commentators swears by these two fruits, because of
their great uses and virtues: for the fig is wholesome and of easy digestion,
and physically good to carry off phlegm, and gravel in the kidneys or bladder,
and to remove obstructions of the liver and spleen, and also cures the piles
and the gout, &
c.; the olive produces oil, which is not only excellent to eat,
but otherwise useful for the compounding of ointments
1; the wood of the olive-
tree, moreover, is good for cleansing the teeth, preventing their growing
rotten, and giving a good odour to the mouth, for which reason the prophets,
and
Mohammed in particular, made use of no other for toothpicks
2.
Some, however, suppose that these words do not mean the fruits or trees
above mentioned, but two mountains in the holy land, where they grow in
plenty; or else the temple of
Damascus and that at
Jerusalem.
3
-
1
Idem, Al Zamakh.
-
2
Al Zamakh
-
3
Idem, Yahya, Al Beidawi, Jallal.