'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎124] (177/905)

124
MANNA, ANIMALS, ETC.
[CHAP. VI.
go out before sun-rise, and having placed cloths under the oak.
An article of larch, tamarisk, and several other kinds of shrubs, the manna
is shaken down in such quantities from the branches as to
give a supply for the market, after providing for the wants of
the different members of the family. The Kurds not only
eat manna in its natural state, as they do bread or dates, but
their women make it into a kind of paste; being in this state,
like honey, it is added to other ingredients used in preparing
sweetmeats, which, in some shape or other, are found in every
house throughout the East.
The manna, when partially cleaned, is carried to the market
at Mosul in goat-skins, and there sold in lumps, at the rate
of 4f lbs. for about But for family consumption, or to
send to a distance out of the country, it is first thoroughly
^eTrin^it c ^ eansec l f rom the fragments of leaves and other foreign matter
by boiling. In the natural state it is described as being of a
delicate white colour. It is also still, as in the time of the
Israelites, like coriander seed, 1 and of a moderate but agreeable
sweetness. 2 Indeed, Calmet, who says it is met with not only
in Arabia, but also in Poland, the mountains of Lebanon,
and other places, compares it to condensed honey. 3 Burck-
hardt, however, says, it is of a dirty yellow colour, slightly
aromatic, of an agreeable taste, sweet as honey, and, when
eaten in any quantity, it is purgative; he adds, that the time
of collecting it lasts six weeks, and that the Arabs esteem it
as their greatest dainty. 4
KurdiSrf Kurdistan the camel is but little used, owing, no doubt,
to the mountainous nature of the country, for which he is
but ill suited; but his place is amply supplied by other
animals. The goats and sheep are met with in large flocks,
and the wool of the latter is particularly good, provided it is
carefully washed. The buffalo is not so common as in the
plains; but oxen and cows are abundant, and of full size ;
they are used almost universally to carry light burthens,
chiefly of corn, which is balanced over the back of the animal
1 Numb. ii. 7. 2 Mr. Rassam.
8 Calmet's Dictionary.
4 Burckhardt's Tour in the Peninsula of Mount Sinai.