SYCOMORE, a Tree call’d the Egyptian Fig-tree; its Name is compos’d of Sycos, a Fig-tree, and Moros, a Mulberry-tree. It partakes of the Nature of each of these Trees; of the Mulberry-tree in its Leaves, and of the Fig-tree in its Fruit, which is pretty like a Fig in its Shape and Bigness. This Fruit grows neither in Clusters, nor at the Ends of the Branches, but sticking to the Trunk of the Tree. Its taste is pretty much like a wild Fig. It does not grow ripe till it is rubb’d with Iron Combs, a after which Rubbing it ripens in1 four Days. Amos shews the same Thing when he says,2 I was no Prophet, neither was I a Prophet’s Son; but I was an Herdman, and a Gatherer of Sycomore-Fruit, or wild Figs. Pliny and other Naturalists observe, that these Figs don’t ripen except they are rubb’d; Scalpendo tantum ferreis unguibus, aliter non maturescit. And Saint Jerome upon Amos says, that without this Management the Figs cannot be eaten, because of their intolerable Bitterness; Sycomori agrestes afferunt ficus, quæ si non vellicentur amarissimas cariculas faciunt.
To make this Tree fruitful, they made Chinks and Clefts in the Bark, through which a kind of milky Liquor continually distils. This causes a little Bough to be form’d, sometimes having six or seven Figs upon it. They are hollow, without Grains, and there is found a little yellow Matter, which is generally a Nest of Grubs. These Figs are sweet, but not good for the Stomach; they weaken it, and create a Nausea, but at the same Time moisten and refresh.
A great many of these Sycomores grow in Egypt, especially about Cairo; and some of ‘em are of such Substance, that three Men can hardly grasp them. There were some also in Judea, since we find Zaccheus climb’d up into a Sycomore to see Jesus Christ pass by; Luke xix. 4.being, it seems, of so low a Stature, that he could not otherwise see him because of the Multitude.
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