Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Avicenna, the Arab phyfician, fpeaks of fugar as being a produce of reeds; but it appears he meant the fugar called Tabaxir or Tabbarzet, as he calls it by that name.

It does not appear, that any of the

Iflands which increased to the size of trees, and yielded a liquor that was fweet and agreeable to the palate. This plant he concludes to be the fugar cane; but I think the paffage in Pliny, Hift. Nat. lib. vi. cap. 22. fcarcely implies fo much. Hitherto we have had no above-mentioned writers knew of the account of any artificial preparation of method of preparing fugar, by boiling fugar, by boiling or otherwfe; but there down the juice of the reeds to a conis a paffage in Statius, Sylv. I. vi. 15. fiftence. It is alfo thought, the fugar that feems, if the reading be genuine, they had was not procured from the to allude to the boiling of fugar, and is fugar cane in ufe at prefent, but from thought to refer immediately thereto by another of a larger fize, called TabarStephens in his Thefaurus. zet by Avicenna, which is the Arundo Arbor of Cafpar Bauhin, the Saccar Mambu of later writers, and the Arundo Bambos of Linnæus. This yields a fweet milky juice, and oftentimes a hard cryftallized matter, exactly refembling fugar, both in taste and appearance.

Arrian, in his Periplus of the Red Sea, fpeaks of the honey from reeds, called facchar (Zaxag) as one of the articles of trade between Ariace and Barygaza, two places of the hither India, and fome of the ports on the Red Sea.

Aelian, in his natural hiftory, fpeaks of a kind of honey, which was preffcd from reeds, that grew among the Prafii, a people that lived near the Ganges.

Tertullian alfo fpeaks of fugar, in his book "De Judicio Dei," as a kind of honey procured from canes.

Alexander Aphrodifæus appears to have been acquainted with fugar, which was, in his time, regarded as an Indian' production. He fays, "that what the Indians called fugar, was a concretion of honey, in reeds, refembling grains of falt, of a white colour, and brittle, and poffeffing a detergent and purgative power like to honey; and which being boiled, in the fame manner as honey, is rendered lefs purgative, without im pairing its nutritive quality."

Paulus Ægineta (peaks of fugar, as growing, in his time, in Europe, and alfo as brought from Arabia Felix; the latter of which he feems to think lefs fweet than the fugar produced in Europe, and neither injurious to the fto. mach, nor caufing thirft, as the European fugar was apt to do.

Achmet, a writer, who, according to fome, lived about the year 830, fpeaks familiarly of fugar as common in his time.

*

The hiftorians of the Crufades make the next mention of fugar of any that have fallen under my obfervation,

The author of the Hiftoria Hierofolymitana (A. D. 1100) fays, that the Crufaders found in Syria certain reeds called Cannameles, of which it was reported a kind of wild honey was made; but does not fay that he saw any fo manufactured.

Albertus Agnenfis relates, that about the fame period, "the Crufaders found fweet honeyed reeds, in great quantity, in the meadows about Tripoli, in Syria, which reeds were called Zucra. These the people (the Crufaders army) fucked, and were much pleased with the fweet taste of them, with which they could fcarcely be fatisfied. This plant (the author tells us) is cultivated with great labour of the hufbandmen every year. At the time of harvest, they bruise it, when ripe, in mortars; and set

* Some of the writers fay, that it was fo called from the name of a place, Exxag Ταπαριές, τοπος δια καλεμενος εις Συρίαν. Conftantinus a Secretis, MS, quoted from Du Cange Glofs. Græc. The word TabarCange, Saccar Album. Herbelot fays, that zet fignifies white, and is tranflated, by Du the Perfians called by that name the hardest and most refined fugar. Bibliotheque Orientale, p. 810.

190 1

[ocr errors]

2

by the ftrained juice in veffels, till it is concreted in form of fnow, or white falt. This, when fcraped, they mix with bread, or rub it with water, and take it as pottage; and it is to them more wholesome and pleafing than the honey of bees. The people who were engaged in the fieges of Albaria Marra, and Archas, and suffered dreadful hunger, were much refreshed hereby.”.

The fame author, in the account of the reign of Baldwin, mentions eleven, camels, laden with fugar, being taken by the Crusaders, fo that it must have been made in confiderable quantity.

Jacobus de Vitriaco mentions, that "in Syria reeds grow that are full of honey, by which he understands a fweet juice, which by the preffure of a screw engine, and concreted by fire, becomes fugar." This is the first account I have met with of the employment of heat or fire in the making of fugar.

About the fame period (A. D. 1124) Willermus Tyrenfis fpeaks of fugar as made in the neighbourhood of Tyre, and fent from thence to the fartheft parts of the world.

Marinus Sanutus mentions (A. D. 1300) that in the countries fubject to the Sultan, fugar was produced in large quantity, and that it likewife was made in Cyprus, Rhodes, Amorea, Marta, Sicily, and other places belonging to the Chriftians.

[ocr errors]

Hugo Falcandus, an author who wrote about the time of the Emperor Frederic Barbaroffa, fpeaks of fugar being in his time produced in great quantity in Sicily. It appears to have been used in two ftates; one wherein the juice was boiled down to the confistence of honey, and another where it was boiled farther, fo as to form a folid body of fugar.

The foregoing are all the paffages that have occurred to my reading on this fubject. They are but few and inconfiderable, but may fave trouble to others, who are willing to make a deeper inquiry into the hiftory of this fubftance.

From Memoirs of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester, Vol. 4

Part 2.

THE GOOD FRIAR OF AUGSBURGH-A CONVERSATION. TOUCHED with the fenfa- Carmelites. Obferving my error, I fuddenly turned about, in order to depart, when a friar, a goodly person of a man, elderly, and of a benign afpect, called me, and, advancing toward mè, afked, in terms of politenefs, and in the French language, why I was retreating fo abruptly?—I was confused d but truth is the enemy before whom confufion every flies; and I told him. the whole of my mistake, and the thoughts from which they arofe.

tions natural to a man who loved to fee his fellow creatures happy, my heart expanded to a fyftem of peace and harmony, comprehending the whole globe: my mind expátiated involuntarily on the bleffings and advantages derived from fuch a fyftem; and, taking flight from the bounds of practicability, to which our feeble nature is pinned on this earth, into the regions of fancy, had reared a fabric of Utopian mold, which, 1 verily believe, exceeded in extravagance the works of all the Utopian architects that ever constructed caftles in the air.

[ocr errors]

The good father, waving further difcourfe on the fubject, but with al fmile which I thought carried a mixture of benevolence for myfelf, and Hurried on by this delightful vifion, contempt for my ideas, brought me my perfon paid an involuntary obedi- through the church, and thewed me all ence to my mind; and the quickness the curiofities of the place, and partiof my pace increafing with the impe- cularly pointed out to me, as a great tuofty of my thoughts, I found my- curiofity, a fun-dial made in the form felf, before I was aware of it, within of a Madonna, the head enriched with the chapel door of the convent of the

Ų u 2

rays

rays and ftars, and in the hand a fceptre which marked the hours.

Quitting the chapel, and going toward the refectory, the friar ftood, and looking at me with a fmile of gayety, faid, I have yet fomething to fhew you, which, while lady Madonna marks the time, will help us to pass it; and, as it will make its way with more force and fubtlety to your fenfes than thofe I have yet fhewn you, will be likely to

be longer retained in remembrance."

He fpoke a few words in German, which of courfe I did not understand, to a vifion bearing the fhape of a human creature, who, I understood, was a lay-brother; and, turning down a long alley, brought me to his cell, where we were foon followed by the aforefaid lay-brother, with a large earthen jug of liquor, two glaffes, and a plate with fome delicately white bifcuit.

"You must know," faid the friar, "that the convent of Carmelites at Augfburgh has for ages been famed for beer unequalled in any part of the world; and I have brought you here to have your opinion-for, being an Englishman, you must be a judge, the Britons being famed for luxury, and a perfect knowledge of the scavoir vivre." He poured out, and drank to me it looked more like clear champaigné than beer-I never tafted any thing to equal it; and feemed highly gratified by my expreffions of praife, which I lavished upon it, as well from politenefs, as regard to truth.

66

anfwered them: but you are youngyou are an Englishman-two characters impatient of reproof: the dogmas of a prieft, I thought, therefore, would be fufficiently difficult to be digested of themselves, without any additional diftaste caught from the chilling aufterity of a chapel.”

I looked unintentionally at the earthen jug, and smiled.

"It is very true," faid he, catching my very inmost thoughts from the expreffion of my countenance" it is very true! good doctrine may, at certain times, and with certain perfons, be more effectually enforced under the cheering influence of the focial board, than by the authoritative declamation and formal fanctity of the pulpit; nor am I, though a Carmelite, one of those who pretend to think, that a thing in itfelf good, can be made bad by decent hilarity, and the animation produced by a moderate and wise use of the goods of this earth.”

I was aftonished

You fell into a reverie," continued he, " produced by the contemplation of the happiness of a fociety exifting without any difference, and where no human breath fhould be wasted on a figh, no ear tortured with a groan, no tears to trickle, no griefs or calamities to wring the heart."

"Yes, father!" faid I, catching the idea with my former enthusiasm; "that would be my wifh-that my greatest, firft defire."

[ocr errors]

After we had drank a glass each, Then feeft thou," interrupted he, "I have been reflecting," faid the friar," the extent of thy with, fuppofe your on the fingular flight of fancy that could realize it, which, thank God! directed your steps into this convent- you cannot. Your mind was diseased, my fon! and a propitious fuperintending power has guided your steps to a phyfician, if will but have the goodness to take the medicine he offers."

you

I ftared with visible marks of aftonishment.

"You are furprifed," continued he, "but you fhail hear! When first you difclofed to me thofe fickly flights of your mind, I could on the inftant have

"What! thank God that I cannot? are thefe your thoughts?"

"Yes, my fon; and ere Madonna marks the progress of ten minutes with her fceptre, they will be your's too." Impoffible!"

66

"Hear me, my fon!-Is not death a horrible precipice to the view of human creatures ?"

"Affuredly," faid I" the most.

[ocr errors][merged small]

on your mind-fo limited is man, fo imperfect in his nature, that the extent of his virtue borders on vice, and the extent of his wifdom on error."

[ocr errors]

1 thought he was infpired; and, juft as he got to the lift period, every organ of mine was opened to take in his words. 'Tis well, my fon !" faid he-" I perceive you perceive you like my doctrine: then (changing his manner of speaking, his expreffive countenance the whole time almoft anticipating his whole words) take fome more of it," faid he gayly, pouring out a fresh glass. I pleaded the fear of inebriety-" Fear not,' faid he; "the beer of this convent never hurts the intell.&."

[ocr errors]

horrible; human laws declare that, by to-day imprefs this undeniable maxim reforting to it for punishment, as the ultimatum of all terrible inflictions." "When, then," faid he, "covered as we are with misery, to leave this world is fo infupportable to the human reflection, what muft it be if we had nothing but joy and felicity to tafte of in this life? Mark me, child!" faid, be, with an animated zeal that gave an expreffion to his countenance beyond any thing I had ever feen: " the miferies, the calamities, the heart-rendings, and the tears, which are fo intimately interwoven by the Great Artift ia our natures, as not to be feparated in a fingle inftance, are, in the first place, our fecurity of a future ftate, and, in the next place, ferve to flope the way before us, and by gradual operation, fit our minds for viewing, with fome fort of fortitude, that hideous chafm that lies between us and that ftate-death. View thofe miferies, then, as special acts of mercy and commiferation of a beneficent Creator, who, with every calamity, melts away a link of that earthly chain that fetters our wishes to this difmal world. Accept his bleffings and his goods, when he fends them, with gratitude and enjoyment: receive his afflictions, too, with as joyous acceptance, and as hearty gratitude. Thus, and not otherwife, you will realize all your Uropian flights of defire, by turning every thing to matter of comfort, and living contented with difpenfations which you cannot alter, and, if you could, would moft certainly alter for the worfe."

I fat abforbed in reflection-The friar, after fome paufe, proceeded

"Errors arifing from virtuous difpofitions and the love of our fellow creatures, take their complexion from their parent motives, and are virtuous. Your wishes, therefore, my fon! though erroneous, merit reward, and, I truft, will receive it from that Being who fees the receffes of the heart; and if the truths I have told you have not failed to make their way to your understanding, let your adventure or

Our converfation continued till ncar dinner-time; for I was fo delighted, I fcarcely knew how to fnatch `myself away: fuch a happy melange of piety and pleafantry, grave wifdem and humour, I had never met. At length, the convent bell tolling, I rufe: he took me by the hand, and, in a tone of the most complacent admonition, faid, "Remember, my child! as long as you live, remember the convent of the Carmelites; and in the innumerable evils that certainly a wait you if you are to live long, the words you have heard from old friar Auguftine will afford you comfort."

"Father!" returned I," be affured I carry away from you a token that will never fuffer me to forget the hofpitality, the advice, or the politeness of the good father Augufline. Poor as I am in natural means, I can make no other return than my good wishes, nor leave any impreffion behind me: but as my efterm for you, and perhaps my vanity, make me with not to be forgotten, accept this, (a feal ring, with a device in hair, which I happened to have on my finger,) and whenever you look at it, let it remind you of one of thofe, I dare fay innumerable, inftances, in which you have contributed to the happiness and improvement of your fellow-creatures."

The

The good old man was affected, took the ring, and attended me to the convent-gate, pronouncing many bleffings, and charging me to make Augfburgh my way back again to England, if pof

THE LOST EMPEROR. LEAVING Augsburgh, I travelled through Bavaria a long way before I reached the Tyrol county, of the natural beauty of which I had heard much, and which I therefore entered with great expectation of that fublime gratification the beauties of nature never fail to afford me. I was not difappointed; indeed, my warmest expectations were exceeded.

The first thing that ftrikes a travel ler from Bavaria, on entering it, is the fort of Cherink, built between two inacceffible rocks which feparate Tyrol from the bishopric of Freifingen. So amply has nature provided for the fecurity of this country against the incurfion of an enemy, that there is not a país which leads to it that is not through fome narrow defile between mountains almoft inacceffible; and on the rocks and brows of those paffes, the Emperor has conftructed forts and citadels, fo advantageously placed, that they command all the valleys and avenues beneath.

fible, and take one glafs more of the

convent ale.

From Mr Campbell's Journey over
Land to India.

A TYROLESE TALE. winding in different courfes, and haftening to pour their tribute into its bofom.

66

Here I felt my heart overwhelmed with fenfations of tranfport, which all the works of art could never infpire: here nature rufhed irrefiftible upon my fenfes, and, making them captive, exacted their acknowledgment of her fu premacy here vanity, ambition, luft of fame and power, and all the tinfelled, gaudy frippery, to which habit and worldly cuftom enflave the mind, retired, to make way for fentiments of harmony, purity, fimplicity, and truth: here Providence feemed to speak in tanguage molt perfuafive, come, filly man, leave the wild tumult, the endlefs ftruggle, the glittering follies, the falfe and fpurious pleasures which artifice creates, to feduce you from the true-dwell here-and in the lap of nature ftudy me: Here, oh! hear, exclaimed 1,. in a tranfport which bereft me, for the time, of every other confideration, here will I dwell for ever. After a variety of windings and turn- The charm was too finely fpun, to withings through mountains of ftupendous ftand the hard tugs of fact; and all its height and awful afpect, I began to de- precious delufions vanished before a host. fcend, and entered the most delightful of gloomy truths-deranged affairsvalley I had ever beheld-deep, long, family far off, with the diftance daily and above a mile in breadth, furround- increafing the hazards and the harded with enormous piles of mountains, fhips of a long untried journey—and the and diverfified with the alternate beau- Eaft Indies, with all its horrors, in the ties of nature and cultivation, fo as to rear. I hung my head in forrow; and, form an union rarely to be met with, offering up a prayer to protect my famiand delight at once the eye of the far- ly, ftrengthen myfelf, and bring us once mer, and the fancy of him that has a more together in fome spot heavenly as true tafte for rural wildnefs. From the that I paffed through, was proceeding heights in defcending, the whole ap- on in a ftate of dejection proportionate peared in all its glory; the beautiful to my previous tranfports, when I was ilver Inn gliding along through it lon- roufed by my poftilion, who, pointing gitudinally, its banks ftudded with the to a very high fleep rock, defited me to moft romantic little villages, while a take notice of it. I did fo; but feeing number of inferior ftreams were feen nothing very remarkable in its appear

ance,

« ZurückWeiter »