226 VRAVF.LS IN UPPER 



for the composition of soap and the use of manu- 

 factures, know not how to impart to the oil of the 

 sesame the qualities which it is capahle of, and 

 which in all probability it formerly possessed. 



Natural to the warmest climates of the Old 

 Continent, the plant which was then caWed s ems em 

 is known in Europe by the name of sesame, and 

 sometimes by that o( jug co line, which has no con- 

 nexion with its original denomination. It re- 

 sembles the fox-glove in a great measure *. Its 

 cultivation is very general in Egypt, and over 

 several cantons of the Levant ; it even begins to 

 flourish in Italy ; but I have seen the seeds of the 

 sesame there, vt'hich were much smaller and worse 

 filled than those of Africa. This plant also thrives 

 very well in French Guiana, a colony neglected, 

 and of no reputation, but from which, however, 

 France might derive great advantage and consl- 

 derable wealth. The negroes there cultivated the 

 sesame in their gardens, and extracted from it an 

 oil, which proved a balm to wretches equally 

 worn out by excess of labour and by privation of 

 comfort. 



Exclusive of their economical properties, the 

 sesame and its preparations are besides in use 



* Digitalis orientalis se^amum dicta. Tournef. Inst. Rei herb. 

 Sesamum imiicwn, Lin. 



amongst 



