Page 139 - Third Book of Reading Lessons
P. 139
138 THIRD BOOK OF
dant n the Isthmus of Corinth, and were thence called Corinths: this term has een corrupted into currants, probably om their resemblance to the English uit of that name. These little grapes have no s nes, and ,are of a reddish black colour ; they are extremely delicious when esh gathered. The harvest commenc in August ; and as soon as the grapes are gathered, they are spread to dry on a
oor, prepared r the purpose by stamping the earth quite hard. This oor is rmed with a gentle rising in the middle, that the·rain, in case any should ll, may ow o and not injure the uit. hen su ciently dry, the currants are cleaned and laid up in magazines, where they are so closely pressed to gether, that when a supply is needed, it is dug out with an iron instrument. .They are packed in large cass r exportation, and trodden down by the natives.
2. The fruit of the Tamarind is a roundish, some what compressed pod, about ur or ve inches long, the external part of which is very_ brittle. Each pod contains three or ur hard seeds, enclosed in tough skins, surrounded by a dark-coloured acid pulp, and connected together by numerous woody bres. Be fore the tamarinds are exported, the pulp, with the seeds and bres, are taken out of the pod, and tliose which are the produce of the West Indies are pre served in a sirop. The East Indian tamarinds are usually sent without any such admixture. In hot countries the tamarind is valued as a refreshing
uit ; and, steeped in water, it rms a cooling bev erage.
3. Sa ron is the orange-coloured pistil of a purple species of crocus, the petals of which appear in
