JC^ JDiffiriation on the iJijhry of Sugar. 



This eflfav might appear very defe(f>.ire if 1 palTed over in 

 (ilence the opinion of Saumarfe * refpefting the fugar oi the 

 aiilieats, which has been adopted by many learned men. 

 This author endeavours to prove, by a v;i.riety of arguments, 

 that the antient faccharum was the fame as the modern fac- 

 cbar mambu of the Indians, and the tahaxir of the Perfians 

 and the Arabs. I fliall not, however, adduce all the proofs 

 which he employs, and which have been frequently quoted 

 by others, but confine n^}'felf to a few obfcrvations. As I 

 never had an opportunity of feeing, as far as I remember, 

 tttc fugar called mambu, as n.one of it has been imported 

 into Europe in my time, we mull confider it to be that men- 

 tioned by thofe who have been in India, and who have often 

 feert tahax'ir^ 



The tree which produces it, and which is very common 

 in India, is called by botanifts arundo bamlus \ , Between 

 its joints a fweet thick juice exudes, fometimes in a large and 

 fomctimes a fmaller quantity. Every tree of this fort does 

 not, however, exude that liquor; but thofc only which grow 

 in Bifnaga, Betecala, and part of the province called Mala- 

 bar; and for this rcafon many who fpeak of this tree, or reed, 

 fay nothing of its fugar. This liquor, Vv'hm found in a con- 

 crete fiate, is fometimes biackiOi and fomctimes of an afh 

 colour, but on that account is not confidered to be of a worfe 

 quality. According to the tefhmony of Indian, Arabian, 

 Perfian, and Turkilh phyficians, the /a^fl-^ir is of fervice in 

 external and internal heats, and alfo fevers and dyfenteries. 

 In the time of Garcias ab Orto;]:, whofe words I have hi- 

 therto ufed, this tabaxir was as dear as filver. The name 

 facchar mambu fignlfies the fame as fugar of mambu, as the 

 Indians give the name of mambu to the reeds or branches of 

 the tree that produces it. Pifo § derives the word tabaxir 

 or tubarzad, for fo it is read in Rhafes, who lived in the 



ftreni^th, they are full of an agreeable excellent juice, and for this rcafon 

 are purchaftd at a dear rate b)' the Turks. Before they begin to ufe 

 thefe canes, they llrip off the long leaves and cut away the dry part at the 

 top, fo that the remaining part, which is good, and full of lap, is i'carccly 

 an ell in length. Some of them carry about ",vith i hem through the ftreets 

 canes prepared in thii manner as our boors do pipes, and cutting off bit 

 after bit, and peeling away the rind, chew them publicly with great plea- 

 fure ; for at tfcie bottom near the root they are very fappy, and as tender 

 between the teeth as a lump of fugar," 



" Salmaf. ad Solinum, p. 719. 



+ Pomet Aufrichtiger Materialift, LcSpxig 1717, p. 114. 



% Aromatum et Simplicium Medicamentorwm Hiftotia, Antwerfia 



1574. P- 49. 

 § PLt de Saccharo, p. 5. 



ninth 



