CHICK-PEA. 19 



imported by the " Italian warehousemen" is sold by them for 

 making soup similar to that made from peas. The article so 

 much advertised as food for infants and invalids under the 

 name of " Revalenta Arabica " is the farina of the lentil freed 

 from the outer skin, which is considered unwholesome. 



The small Egyptian Lentil (Ervum Lenticula), originally 

 a native of Carinthia, is occasionally imported in considerable 

 quantities : it is chiefly used in feeding cattle. It is of a 

 red colour, and scarcely half the size of the Trench lentil. 

 As none of the genus Ervum are natives of Asia, it is most 

 probable that the lentils mentioned in Holy Writ were the 

 White Lupins (Lupinus alius: Leguminosce) , which are not 

 only natives of Asia, but are now extensively cultivated in 

 many parts of Asia and Southern Europe for the purposes 

 of food. These white lupins are occasionally imported into 

 England in small quantities, chiefly for the use of the resi- 

 dent Italians, who are fond of this kind of pulse. 



Ceci, Cicer, or Chick-Pea. Cicer arietinum. (Nat. 

 Ord. Leguminosce.) 



This pulse somewhat resembles the white pea, but is rather 

 larger and more irregularly shaped. It is much used in 

 Eastern countries, as a nutritious food, under the name of 

 Gram. When roasted, it is said to sustain life longer than 



