168 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



branch. Arab children, in like manner, collect gum arabic 

 on the borders of the deserts, from a species of acacia, 

 which resembles that of the wild cherry, though differing 

 in its chemical qualities. This gum, according to the tes- 

 timony of Hasselquist, sustained more than one hundred 

 men, during nearly two months, without any other sub- 

 stance than a small portion taken occasionally, and suffered 

 gradually to dissolve ; an effect produced, without doubt, 

 in a twofold manner : first, by lubricating the coat of the 

 stomach, and thus preventing it from being acted on by 

 the gastric juice, as also by its nutritious qualities, ap- 

 proaching that of animal gluten, of which the benefit has 

 often been experienced in campaigns. Nor less curious is 

 the fact that the bark of all such trees as furnish this muci- 

 laginous substance possess a tanning quality, as, for instance, 

 that of the gum-producing acacia, which is used in India 

 for tanning leather. 



In France, this beautiful tree is admitted as an ornament 

 to parks and avenues ; but, though attaining to considerable 



