SEbestens are a blackish Fruit, that are brought by the Way of Marseilles, from the Levant, &c. The Tree that bears this Fruit is about the Height of our common Plum-Trees; the Leaves green, and almost like them, but that they are a little rounder: The Flowers are whitish, in Form of a Star, from whence comes the Fruit, about the Size of one's Finger End; it hangs to the Branch, by a little white Cup, as it is brought to us.
Chuse your Sebestens fresh, plump, moist, and full of Pulp, of a black, brown Colour outwardly, adorn'd with white Caps, which is an essential Sign of their Newness, and such as have neither been wash'd nor rubb'd. The Flesh is sweet, viscous and pulpy, therefore reject such as are otherwise, and whose Caps are gone, which is a Token they have been wash'd or rubb'd; and also take Care not to chuse those that are hard, small, and of a reddish Colour.
The Way of using the Sebestens is much the same as that of the Jujubs, and their Virtues alike, so that one is frequently us'd for the other: The Egyptians make a Gluey Sort of Birdlime of the viscous Fruit, which is call'd Alexandrian Birdlime; but as this seldom comes amongst us, we use that which is made in several Parts of France, in Normandy, and about Orleans. This Birdlime is prepar'd from the inner Rind of the green Bark, and that of the Holly-Tree, steep'd in a Pond or Pit, and afterwards beat together in a Mortar, 'till it is reduced into a Paste, and then well work'd with the Hands, and wash'd in the Water; it is put up in Barrels, to be sent to several Parts: The Choice of it is, to take such as is the greenest, the least fetid, and freest from Water that can be got: The Use of it being to catch Birds, and other Creatures of the like Nature.
Schroder says, the Plums of the Sebesten-Tree are small, with a three-corner'd Stone; they are temperate in Respect of Heat, and moist, soften, and prevent, or allay the Acrimony of Humours; are us'd chiefly in Defluxions of Rheum, Obstructions of the Belly, and quench Thirst. You may make a Decoction of them with Wine and Water, to move the Belly gently to stool; or make an Electuary of them thus: Take Sebestens without the Stones, Prunes ston'd, Pulp of Tamarinds, of each five Ounces; Violet-Water two Pints; Juice of the Herb Mercury, clarify'd, four Ounces; Sugar Penids half a Pound: Of the four greater cold Seeds, blanch'd, of each two Ounces; Diagridium three Drams: Boil the Sebestens, Prunes and Tamarinds, in the distill'd Water, which being dissolv'd, mix with the Juices; then add the Penids and Pulp of Prunes, which being dissolv'd also, mix the Diagridium, and make an Electuary. It purges, and is good against exquisite, continual Fevers, taking away their vehement Heat; quenches Thirst, causes Rest, and carries off the Sharpness of Humours, and provokes to Urine.
Sebestena, or Prunus Sebesten, is a Fruit of the Size of a small Acorn, that is oblong, roundish and black, wrinkled as a little Prune, of a sweetish, viscous, or clammy Taste, cover'd at the upper End with a small woody Cap, of a whitish Grey. The Fruit grows upon a Tree of the same Name, resembling the Prune Tree; only that the Leaves are a little more swallow-tail'd, and indented; the Flowers are small, white, and like those of the Geranium. This Tree grows in Syria, Egypt, &c. Make choice of your Fruit, according to the Directions given by Pomet; they contain in them much Oil, and some essential Salt; are moistening, emollient, sweetening, pectoral, and serve to open the Breast, cleanse the Reins, provoke Spittle, and relax the Bowels.