HISTORY OF SUGAR. 141 



the leaves of the reed; while others again imagined it was 

 the concretion of the reed, formed in the manner of gum. 



ESTHER. 

 When did they first find out the truth respecting hi 



MRS. F. 



In the year 1250, when all these fanciful speculations were 

 put an end to, by a Venetian traveller. 



HENRIETTA. 



Oh! that must be Marco Polo, about whom you were telling 

 us some weeks since.* 



MRS. F. 



It was so. The merchants, who before that period, had 

 only gone to Ormus, now emboldened by his example, exten- 

 ded their voyages, and brought away the sugar-cane and the 

 silk-worm. The story of the latter being concealed in a reed, 

 you all know. Arabia Felix was the first nursery of these 

 productions, whence they passed into Nubia, Ethiopia, and 

 Egypt, where sugar was soon made in great abundance. 



Sugar-cane. 



HENRIETTA. 



Where was it next sent to! 



* See chap. 





