ASH. 99 



which, if steeped in water, renders it sweet 

 and purgative. 



That the medicinal drug, known by us 

 under the name of manna, is merely the juices 

 of the various plants condensed by their 

 meeting the air, is fully demonstrated by the 

 manner in which it is obtained from the 

 fraxinm rotundifolia. Mr. Swinburn tells us, 

 that in Calabria, the gatherers of manna com- 

 mence this business about the end of July, 

 by making a horizontal gash, inclining up- 

 wards, in the bole of the tree. But as the 

 liquor never oozes out the first day, another 

 cut is given on the second, and then the 

 woodman fixes the stalk of a maple leaf in 

 the upper wound, and the end of the leaf in 

 the lower one, so as to form a cup to receive 

 the gum as it distils from each slash. The sea- 

 son continues about a month. The men have 

 only three carlini, Is. lid., for every rotolo ; 

 which quantity, containing thirty-three ounces 

 and a third, is sold for twenty-four carlini and 

 three quarters, or somewhat more than ten 

 shillings ; if it be in tubular pieces, the price 

 rises one third. These pieces are called Manna 

 in cannoli, and these regular tubes are pro- 

 duced, by applying to the incision thin straw, 

 or small bits of shrubs, upon which the manna 

 runs as it oozes out. Formerly the Syrian 



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