SUGAR. 383 



secuted in that empire for two thousand years before 

 sugar was even known in Europe, and for a very 

 long period before other eastern nations became ac- 

 quainted with its use. For some time after this sub- 

 stance, in its crystalline form, had found its way to 

 the westward, through India and Arabia, a singular 

 degree of ignorance prevailed in regard to its nature, 

 and the mode of its production ; and there is reason 

 for believing that the Chinese, who have always 

 evinced an unconquerable repugnance to foreign in- 

 tercourse, purposely threw a veil of mystery over the 

 subject. Persons have not been wanting, even in 

 modern times, who have approved of this anti-social 

 spirit, as being the perfection of political wisdom ; 

 but is it not a complete answer to their opinion, that 

 every nation which has cultivated commercial rela- 

 tions has been steadily advancing in civilization, and 

 adding most importantly to the sum of its comforts 

 and conveniences ; while the inhabitants of China, 

 although possessed of the greatest natural advan- 

 tages, arising from variety of soil and climate, and 

 whereby they had so long ago placed themselves in 

 advance of other people, have remained altogether 

 stationary ? The case of this extraordinary people 

 forms altogether, and in many^ ways, a standing 

 enigma in the history of our species, the solving of 

 Avhich could not fail to prove highly instructive and 

 interesting. 



A knowledge of the origin of cane sugar was cor- 

 rectly revealed in the middle of the thirteenth cen- 

 tury, by the celebrated traveller Marco Polo ; though 

 it was partially known much earlier. The plant 

 was soon conveyed to Arabia, Nubia, Egypt, and 

 Ethiopia, where it became extensively cultivated. 

 Early in the fifteenth century the sugar-cane first 

 appeared in Europe. Sicily took the lead in its 

 cultivation ; thence it passed to Spain, Madeira, and 



