'406 
A Treatise on 
Artic. VIII. Of Sugar. 
Saccbarum , Off. Sax^apcv, Diofcor . 2 c£>t%cig, Galen. 
MeA» h x.ocXoc[*oi<;> Lheophraf. Me A i Y.ocXocy.lvov^ Arrian. 
’Aa? Pauli AEginet. Zuccar , Arab . Saccharon , 
Plin. Sugar is an effential Salt, fat, oily, of a red- 
difh brown Colour or grayifh when unrefined ; but 
when perfeftly refined, of a fnowy Whitenefs and 
cryftalline Splendour, dry and friable under the 
Teeth. It difiblves in Water, and becomes thick a- 
gain by boiling •, is fat like Honey, and dudtile into 
long Threads, of an agreeable fweet Tafte, almoft 
void of Smell, and is extracted from the Sugar- 
Cane. 
It was known to the Ancients, but was not ufed 
among them as it is at this time with us •, which in- 
deed is evident from the Teftimony of many Au- 
thors •, though it was formerly, as at prefent, pro- 
cured from different Plants, which we fhall men- 
tion below. 
Strabo , in his Geography, /. 1 5. writes exprefsly, 
that in the Indies there is a certain Reed which pro- 
duces Honey without the Afiiftance of Bees. Lucan 
alfo witneffeth the fame in this Line. 
Quique % bibunt tenerd dulces ah Ar undine fuccos. 
Likewife Marcus Varro in the following Verfes, 
In die a non magnd nimis Arbore crefcit Arundo : 
lUius e lentis premitur radicibus humor , 
JOulcia cui nequeant Succo contendere Mella . 
Upon this Reed, Seneca , Epift. 85. writes thus, 
“ It is faid that Honey is found in the Indies upon 
“ the 
* Sc. lndi , 
