MALLUACH (176p) occurs only once in Scrip ture, namely, in the passage where Job complains that he is subjected to the contumely of the meanest people, those who cut up mallows (malluach) by the bushes--- for their meat' (Job xxx. 4). The proper meaning of the word malluach has been a subject of considerable discussion among authors, in consequence, apparently, of its resemblance to the Greek AaNctxn (malakhe), signifying and also to maluch, which is said to be the Syriac name of a species of Orache, or Atriplex. It is difficult, if not impossible, to say which is the more correct interpretation, as both appear to have some foundation in truth, and seem equally adapted to the sense of the above-quoted passage. The ma lakhe of the Greeks is distinguished by Dioscorides into two kinds; of which he states that the culti vated is more fit for food than the wild kind. Arab authors apply the description of Dioscorides to khoob-bazee, a name which in India we found ap plied both to species of Malva rotundifolia and of M. sylvestris, which extend from Europe to the north of India, and which are still used as food in the latter country, as they formerly were in Europe, and probably in Syria. Dr. Shaw, in his Travels, on the contrary, observes that Ofellou-keah, or mulookiah, ti+i-nn, as in the Arabic, is the same with the melochia or corchorus, being a podded species of mallows, whose pods are rough, of a glutinous substance, and used in most their dishes. Mellou-keah appears to be little different in name from rn (Job xxx. 4), which we render mallows ;' though some other plant, of a more saltish taste, and less nourishing ouality, may be rather intended.' The plant alluded to is Cor chorus olitorius, which has been adopted and; figured in her Scripture Herbal by Lady Calcott, who observes that this plant, called Jews' Mallow, appears to he certainly that mentioned by the patri arch. Avicenna calls it olus yudaicum ; and Rau wolf saw the Jews about Aleppo use the leaves as potherbs ; and this same mallow continues to be eaten in Egypt and Arabia, as well as Palestine.' But there are so, many plants of a mild mucilagin ous nature which are used as articles of diet in the East, that it is hardly possible to select one in pre ference to another, unless we find a similarity in the name. Thus species of Anzaranthus, of Cheno podium, of Portulacca, as well as the above Cor chorus, and the mallow, are all used as food, and might be adduced as suitable to the above passage, since most of them are found growing wild in many parts of the countries of the East.
Bochart, however, contends (Hieroz., part i., t. iii., c. 16) that the word malluack denotes a saltish plant called aNtp.os by the Greeks, and which with good reason is supposed to be the Atriplex Halimus of botanists, or tall shrubby Os-ache. The Septua gint, indeed, first gave Atua as the interpretation of malluach. Celsius adopts it, and many others consider it as the most correct. By Ibn Buetar, malookh is given as the synonym of al kutqf al buhuri, i. e., the sea-side .Kutuf or Orache, which is usually considered to be the Atriplex marinum, now A. Halimus. Bochart quotes Galen as de. scribing the tops of this as being used for food when young. Dioscorides also says that its leaves are employed for the same purpose. What the Arab writers state as to the tops of the plants being eaten, corresponds to the description of Job, who states that those to whom he refers cropped upon the shrub—which by some is supposed to indicate that the malluack grew near hedges. These, how ever do not exist in the desert. There is no doubt that species of Orache were used as articles of diet in ancient times, and probably still are so in the countries where they are indigenous; but there are many other plants, similar in nature, that is, soft and succulent, and usually very saline, such as the Salsolas, Salicornias, etc., which, like the species of Atriplex, belong to the same natural family of Chenopodea, and which from their saline nature have received their respective names. Many of these are well known for yielding soda by incinera tion. In conformity with this, Mr. Good thinks that the real plant is a species of Salsola, or salt. wort ;' and that the term aXip.a, employed in the Greek versions, gives additional countenance to this conjecture.' Some of these are shrubby, but most of them are herbaceous, and extremely com mon in all the dry, desert, and saline soils which extend from the south of Europe to the north of India. Most of them are saline and bitter, but some are milder in taste and mucilaginous, and are therefore employed as articles of diet, as spinach is in Europe. Salsola indica, for instance, which is common on the coasts of the peninsula of India, Dr. Roxburgh states, saved the lives of many thousands of the poor natives of India during the famine of 1791-93 ; for while the plant lasted, most of the poorer classes who lived near the sea had little else to eat ; and indeed its green leaves ordinarily form an essential article of the food of those natives who inhabit the maritime districts. J. F. R.