MANNA-TREE. 135 



3jus, mentioned above, are regularly cultivated for the purpose of 

 procuring manna, and with this view are planted on the declivity of 

 a hill, with an eastern aspect. After ten years growth, the trees first 

 begin to yield the manna, but they require to be much older before 

 they afford it in any considerable quantity. Although the manna 

 exudes spontaneously upon the trees, yet in order to obtain it more 

 copiously, incisions are made through the bark, by means of a sharp 

 crooked instrument ; and the seasou thought to be the most favour, 

 able for instituting this process, is a little before the dog-days com- 

 mence, when the weather is dry and serene. The incisions are first 

 made in the lower part of the trunk, and repeated at the distance of 

 an inch from the former wound, still extending the incisions upwards 

 as far as the branches, and confining them to one side of the tree, 

 the other side being reserved till the year following, when it under- 

 goes the same treatment. On making these incisions, which are of 

 a longitudinal direction, about a span in length, and nearly two 

 inches wide, a thick whitish juice immediately begins to flow, which 

 gradually hardens on the bark, and in the course of eight days ac- 

 quires the consistence and appearance in which the manna is import- 

 ed into Britain, when it is collected in baskets, and afterwards packed 

 in large chests *. Sometimes the manna flows in such abundance 

 from the incisions, that it runs upon the ground, by which it becomes 

 mixed with various impurities, unless prevented, which is commonly 

 attempted, by interspersing large concave leaves, stones, chips of 

 wood, &c. The business of collecting manna usually terminates at 

 the end of September, when the rainy season sets in t. 



* La manne est le principal revenu de ce pays & de quelques autres qui en 

 sont voisins. II monte dans une bonne annee a vingt-cinq uiille Louis d'or. 

 Houel Voyage Pittoresque, torn. 1. p. 53. 



f This account is taken from Houel Voyage PittQresque, and Sestini Lettrt 

 della Sicilian and related by Murray; to which we shall subjoin Dr. CiriUo's 

 account, communicated to the Royal Society. Vide Vol. 60. p. 233. 



" The manner in which the manna is obtained from the Ornus, though very 

 simple, has been yet very much misunderstood by all those who travelled in the 

 kingdom of Naples; and among other things they seem to agree, that the best 

 and purest manna is obtained from the leaves of the tree ; but this, I believe, 

 is an opinion taken from the doctrine of the ancients, and received as an incon 

 testtble observation, without consulting nature. I never saw such a kind, and all 

 those who are employed in the gathering of the manna, know of none that comes 

 from the leaves. The manna is generally of two kinds; not on account of the 



K 4 



