148 Sctentifie Intelligence. [Frew 
and then mixed up with rose water, flour, and pistachio nuts, 
ito cakes, and in this form constitutes the sweetmeat called. 
in Persia gezangabeen, and which, by the Persians, is highly 
valued. Though the gez, when first collected, admits of being 
sifted, still in its original state it is brittle and adhesive at the 
same time—qualities for which it is remarkable after its prepa- 
ration as a sweetmeat. If pressed, it sticks to the fingers; but 
on being smartly struck, separates easily into small grains, like 
sugar. Itis this state in cool weather; but above the temper- 
ature of 68°, it liquefies, and resembles white honey both in 
colour and taste. 
Besides the above species of manna, other products of a 
similar nature are stated by the author of the present papgr, as 
well as others, to be found in Persia and the neighbouring 
countries.—(Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay.) 
Meerza Jiafer Tabeeb, a Persian physician, now in London,. 
gives a different account of this substance. Gez, according to 
iim, is the name ofa tree called in Arabic Turfa, and which is 
supposed to belong to the Tamarisk genus. Of this tree there 
are two species; one a shrub, which yields the substance in 
- question, called gezangabeen (a term meaning literally juice of 
the (tree) gex), used only as a sweetmeat; the other, a tree 
yielding a somewhat similar substance, called in Arabic Athel, 
and which is employed in medicine as an astringent. Besides 
these two species of manna, he states they have a third, called 
in Arabic Trees, which is used as a laxative. This gentle- 
man also states, that it is the universal opinion in Persia that 
all these varieties are exudations from the trees on which they 
are found, and not the work of insects. 
X. Information respecting the Tree called Lignum Rhodium in 
Pococke’s Travels. By Sir James Edward Smith, M.D, 
Pres. L.S. 
Pococke in his well-known Description of the East, ii. 230, 
speaking of Cyprus, has the following passage : 
“‘ Most of the trees in the island are evergreen ; but it is most 
famous for the tree called by the natives Xylon Effendi, the Wood 
of our Lord, and by naturalists Lignum Cyprinum and Lignum 
Rhodium, because it grows in these two islands. It is called 
also the Rose Wood, by reason of its smell. Some say it is in 
other parts of the Levant, and also in the isle of Martinico. It 
grows like the platanus, or plane tree, and bears a seed and 
mast hke that, only the leaf and fruit are rather smaller. The 
botanists call it the orieatal plane tree. The leaves being rubbed 
have a fine balsamic smell, with an orange flavour. It produces 
an excellent white turpentine ; especially when any incisions are 
made in the bark. I suppose it is from this that they extract a 
very fine perfumed oil, which, they say, as wellas the wood, has 
the virtue of fortifying the heart and brain. The common people 
here cut off the bark and wood together, toast it in the fire, and 
“ 
