or Saphet, a village of Palestine, in an elevated situation, which overlooks the western coast of the Lake of Tiberias, and was of some consideration in the time of the crusades; but in 1759, being destroyed by an earthquake, and since regarded with an evil eye by the Turks, it has now dwindled into a poor village. Pococke found in it the ruins of a very strong old castle, which appeared to have commanded the whole surrounding district, which takes its name from the place. It is sixty-five miles south-west from Damascus.

SAFRON is formed of the stigmata of the *crocus officinalis*, dried upon a kiln, and pressed together into cakes. There are two kinds of saffron, the English and Spanish; but the latter is by far the most esteemed. Saffron is principally cultivated in Cambridgeshire. This drug has been reckoned a very elegant and useful aromatic. Besides the virtues it has in common with other substances of the same class, it has been accounted one of the highest cordial.