410 A Treatise on 
Reafon of this is, becaufe in the Time of Pliny the 
Greeks and Latins had not yet mingled Sugar with 
their Food, perhaps on account of its Scarcenefs, 
whence all that was brought to them might but 
barely fuffice for their Medicines. Neverthelefs, 
as we have above obferved from Lucan , the Indians 
at that Time prepared Draughts of the fweet Juice 
of Reeds, both to quench their Third: and to pleafe 
their Palate. 
The Arabians have mentioned three Sorts of Su- 
gar, namely, Zuccar Arundineum , Tabaxir , and Zuc- 
car Alhufar . 
1 . Zuccar Arundineum of Avicenna , is faid to ouze 
out of Canes, and to be found upon them like Salt. 
It feems not to have differed from the Sugar of the 
Ancients which exuded from the Sugar-Cane. This 
fame Sugar when it was found white was termed 
Tabarzed. 
2. Labaxir of Avicenna , which the Interpreters 
have improperly rendered S 'podium or Cinerem , per- 
haps becaufe it fomewhat refembled Afhes, is now 
nothing elfe among the Perfians , Lurks and Arabians , 
than the Sacar Mambu of the Indians or native Sugar 
of the Ancients, which iffued from the Arundo Arbo - 
refcens. Yet I muff confefs, that when I confider 
the W ords of Avicenna , I greatly fufpedt that the 
Arabians denoted by this Name, the firft Sugar 
which had been boiled or had fuffered the Action 
of the Fire. For he tells us, that Labaxir is the 
Ajhes of certain burnt Reeds, concerning which he 
fays, the following Story is commonly related ; 
(viz.) that the Tops of the Reeds are ftruck one 
againfl another by the Force of the Wind, and that 
from their mutual Collifion a Fire is raifed, where- 
by they are confumed to Afhes. This Fable feems 
to have had fome Foundation of Truth ; to wit , 
when Sugar was firft brought to them boiled, and 
not 
