'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.' [‎123] (176/905)

CHAP. VI.] CLIMATE AND PRODUCTS OF KURDISTAN.
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heats to whicli the people of Mesopotamia are exposed, in the
very same latitude; whilst the cheerful vales and long terraces
on the sides of the mountains boast of the gum tragacanth Products of
plant, at the same time that they yield grain, and produce the Kurdistan -
vine, 1 as well as other fruit trees. The forests, in addition to
the ash and oriental plane, have the finest walnut trees in
great abundance; and the oaks bear large gall-nuts of the
very best quality. The honey, which is found in holes under
ground, or in hives made of mud, is remarkably fine, as well
as very plentiful; and it produces a fragrant wax in such
quantities that it forms a constant article of export, with the
gall-nuts, yellow-berries, goats' hair, &c. In addition to
these, the valleys likewise grow silk, cotton, tobacco, hemp,
pulse, wheat, barley, rice, Indian corn, flax, sumach, sesame,
and the castor-oil plant. Melons and pumpkins grow to an
enormous size; and flowers of all kinds, particularly the
gigantic rose, are abundant.
But the most remarkable production in ancient Assyria is
the celebrated vegetable known here by the name of manna ; 2 Manna,
which, in Turkish, is most expressively called Kudret-hal-
vassiz, or the Divine sweetmeat. It is found on the leaves of
the dwarf oak, and also, though less plentifully, and scarcely
so good, on those of the tamarisk, 3 and several other plants.
It is occasionally deposited on the sand, and also on rocks and
stones. The latter is of a pure white colour, and appears to
be more esteemed than the tree manna. 4 It is collected chiefly
at two periods of the year; first in the early part of spring,
and again towards the end of autumn; in either case the
quality depends upon the rain that may have fallen, or, at
least, on the abundance of the dews; for, in the seasons
which happen to be quite dry, it is understood that little or
none is obtained. In order to collect the manna, the people
1 Excellent wine and brandy are made near Bitlis.—Kinneir, p. 394.
2 Exod. xvi. 15, 31, 33, and 35; Numb. xi. 7.
3 Tarfa, in Arabic.
4 Mr. Rich, Vol. I., p. 142, seems to think this is another kind of manna;
but Mr. Rassam, from whom my information is chiefly derived, considered it
to be the same, with the simple difference of being free from the leaves and
other impurities taken up with it, when shaken from the trees or plants.
R 2