Page 101

27f 39

Shedma; Duquella, and other p ro v in c e s ; the tree ^ a b u n dantly in the A tla s mountains, and is found also m Bled-el ierfede T h e gum, when new, emits a famt smell, and when 1 wed in the w a r eh o u s e ,it is heard to. crack spontaneously f lr^ e v e r a l w e ek s ; a»d ,h i ,.m cH n g 2 K * » W « new sum, as it never does so when o ld ; there is, however, scarcely any difference in the quality. T h e A tta leh is not so large a tree as the A ra r , which produces the Sandrac gum, no does it reach the size o f the Aurwar tree, 'vhtch prod u c e s^ gum Senegal. It has a low crooked stem, and the narrowness o f its leaves (long and scanty), have a hats , withered, and unhealthy appearance at the time it yield s the most gum, that is, during the hot and parching months o f July and Augu st; but although not an ornamental tree, it is a m useful plant, and w ill always be considered valuable. Its wood hard, and takes a good polish; its seeds, which a r e enclosed, m a pericarpium, resemble those o f the lu p in, y ie ld a reddish dye, and are used b y the tanners in the preparation o f leather. These seeds a ttract goats, who are v e r y fond o f eating them- 1 ‘ more sickly the tree appears, the more gum it y ie ld s ; and the hotter the weather, the more prolific it is. Aw e t winter and a cool or m ild summer are unfavourable to the production o f gum. Oil o f Olives— T h e province o f Suse produces great abundance o f this o i l * T he people o f Ras-el-wed make two sorts, . The Plantations of olive-trees in this province are very numerous: there is an ext L


27f 39
To see the actual publication please follow the link above