MANNA. 



355 



HISTOEICAL NOTES ON MANNA. 



(Zur Geschichte der Manna in Caldbrien und Sicilien.) 



WHATEVER was the true nature of the substance provided for 

 the sustenance of the ancient Israelites, and termed by them 

 manna, that name has in subsequent ages been used to desig- 

 nate certain saccharine exudations produced in hot countries 

 upon the stems, branches or leaves of trees, shrubs, or herba- 

 ceous plants, belonging to various families. Thus in the penin- 

 sula of Sinai a sweet substance called manna is exuded by a 

 species of tamarisk ; in Persia a manna is produced by a small, 

 thorny, leguminous plant, known to botanists as Alliagi Mauro- 

 rum ; and in Kurdistan, an evergreen-oak affords an analogous 

 product. These substances have from a remote period been 

 employed as food or medicine, and they are still found, though 

 in small quantities in the bazaars of the East. The cedar of 

 Lebanon, the larch, a Cistus, and certain Australian species of 

 Eucalyptus likewise yield at certain seasons saccharine exuda- 

 tions in more or less abundance ; and those derived from the 

 cedar and larch have occasionally been collected for use. 



The manna of modern times is well known to have a very 

 different origin, being a product obtained in considerable abund- 

 ance from the stems and branches of a species of ash cultivated 

 in Calabria and Sicily. With this manna Europe is wholly sup- 

 plied, and it likewise finds its way into the markets of the East. 



During some conversation last summer with my friend Dr. 

 Fliickiger, of Berne, he drew my attention to this curious fact, 

 that in the early history of Sicily no mention is made of manna 

 as a production of the island. This induced me to look around 

 for further information, the result of which has been the collec- 

 tion of a few notes on the history of this drug, which seem of 

 sufficient interest to be presented. 



In the first place, I must thank Colonel Yule, to whom I 

 wrote, thinking that his familiarity with historical research, and 

 actual residence at Palermo, might enable him to impart some 

 hints for my guidance. But he has been good enough to render 



A A 2 



1869. 



Ancient 



manna. 



Modern 

 manna. 



Col. Ynle's 

 researches. 



