THE COLUilBINE, OR PIGEON GROUP. 13 L 



cularly by the great pilgrim caravan to Mecca ; 

 and if the conjecture be correct, it may be 

 supposed to have been among the provisions 

 stored up in the besieged city, and sold at the 

 extravagant price mentioned in the text. It is 

 clear that if dove's dung be really intended, it 

 could not be used as an article of food, and 

 then we are thrown upon its use as manm-e. 

 This use is best exemplified in Persia. These 

 form such essential articles of food in some 

 warm climates, that vast quantities are con- 

 sumed, and in besieged towns persons who 

 have been rather delicately brought up have 

 been known to pine away and die for the 

 want of such essential provisions, even when 

 corn was abundant. On this point, Mr. Morier 

 observes, ' the dung of doves is the dearest 

 manure which the Persians use, and as they 

 apply it almost entirely to the rearing of 

 melons, it is probably on that account that 

 the melons of Ispahan are so much finer 

 than those of other cities. The revenue of a 

 pigeon-house is about a hundred tomauns 

 per annum ; and the great value of this dung 

 which rears a fruit that is indispensable to 

 the existence of the natives during the great 

 heats of summer, will probably throw some 



