MANNA IN AUSTRALIA.

Shannon News, 2 June 1924, Page 4

MANNA IN AUSTRALIA.

FALL IN WESTERN STATE; UNUSUAL PHENOMENON. INHABITANTS AMAZED. SYDNEY, May 15. The scattered residents of Manjlmup, a pastoral district of West Australia, were amazed last week at a remarkable fall spread over at least 20 miles, of a curious substance which melted in the mouth and had a sweet teste, and which they declare to bo manna. Mr, C. Giblett, ono of the oldest settlers of’ the district, happened to be returning from a cattle mustering expedition when the fall occurred, and lie collected a parcel of the marina, which, he said, had fallen within 14 miles of the Manjimup township. Mr. Giblett followed the course of the fall for about 20 miles, but he could nut state tlhe width of the area visited. He; found it was thickest under the trees, as if it- had ibeen driven against the trunks by a forceful -wind. A portion of the substance collected was handed to a visitor from Perth, who, on his rctuyn to the capital had inquiries made regai’diug its nature. In describing the results, he says:—“l handed the substance to Dr. Battye. at the Public Museum, and he stated that he had no previous record of a fall in this State.” Modern commentators differ in opinion 5s to its probable nature. By some it is identified with an exudation of the tamarisk tree, and by othdrs with the lichen, which torn from its home and carried vast distances by the wind, still falls and is ,gatliered for food in fllio Sinai Peninsula.. By others it is regarded as a special and miraculous creation. At the; present the manna of commerce is collected extensively in Sicily, where the manna ash is cultivated for the purpose in regular plantations. The best manna is in oblong flakes of a whitish or pale yellow colour, light and somewhat transparent. It lias a slight peculiar odour and a sweetish taste, mixed with a slight degree o.f bitterness. It is employed as a gentle laxative for children-, and Is generally used as an .adjunct to othei more powerful medicines. It consists principally of a . crystallisable sweet substance named mannite, and certain other substances, in smaller quantities. Sweetish secretions are exuded by other plants grown in warm and dry climates, such as eucalyptus viminalus, known as the manna gum tree of Australia, which is considered to be a kind of manna.