Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-05-11
Arctic Diet.

The second Grinnell Expedition
which is soon to leave our shores,
takes with it an admirably systema-
tised dictry; the result, evidently, OF
much careful study.
For long marches where the labor
of carriage requires the greatest
economy of weight, q condensed and
portable food becomes OF paramount
Importance. Until very lately the
rifle was the larder ofthe frontiersman,
but we are now in the midst Of great
exodus. Men, woman and children
strike out into our western deserts,
and the vast inter-space between our
Atlantic and Pacific civilizations, is
mass of moving life. We think that
a valuable practical lesson might be
taught to such emigrants, by the pre-
parations of this little Arctic party.
We devoted a morning to an in
spec ton Of their resources. They
take out with them, the meat biscuit
of Borden, the desiccated vegetables
of Cholet, the impaoted milk cakes OF
the Messrs Abbatt, and the pemican
of the Indian u0ylgenrs.
The meat biscuit has, after care
full experiment, has been adopted by
DR. X. for his sledge journeys. ltcom-
bines the essential elements Of flour q
beef,and six ounces aday have been
proved to be sufficient to sustain life,
while in active exercise. Sir Lyon
Playfair, who analysed this article at
the Worlds Fair, reports in unqaali-
fed terms as to its value. The vege-
tables are dried by rapidly changing
atmospheres, and compressed by by
drulic power so as occupy an incon-
ceivably small bulk. The milk
which is destined to do away with
passenger cows, was as hard as a
brickbat, but with the aid of a little
water, was hardly distingulshable
from the breakfast cream.
But the great stand by, the &seet
uncaor of Arctic voyages, was the
Pemican All our Northern Indian
tribes, but especially the Crccs and
Cippewyans, use this preparation for
their long marches. 1t consists oil
the pounded meats of the moose OF
buffalo, carefully dried by fire and
sun, and Incorporated with fat OF
marrow. The word Pcmis, which
in the Algonquin, signifies grease is
probably the origin of the term.
The PemicanAof the American eX,
petition was prepared on large
8 scale from the beef and in its manu-
facture we were much interested.
We were shown into large kilt
of some twenty feet square, heated tt
a temperature of l4o deg. Fahren
heit, and completely filed with bee
steaks. No less than 1000 h., o
carefully cut rump pieces were struns
upon wooden frames, and undergo
ing the process of drying. The steal
! when dried to one fourth of its origi
nal weight, was ground in a mill t,
the size Of pounded homminy, an;
then mixed with an equal weight o
.. pure lard.
No. - lsif: ED.cen-tne inventor d
the meat-buisc uit, who had beer
: selected by Mr.. Grinnell to carry OH
:, his instructions. We were told tina
four thousand pounds of meat ant
2 one thousand of lard would make
about two thousand pounds of thi
concentrated diet, and that the seal,
of DR.. Kane's rations for his fna
sledge journey over the Polar ice
1 would be limited to two pounds pc
man perdiem Of this novel COMPOUND
9 Of beef and grease.
1 Well as this was adapted to it
purpose, those Of Us .who live a
> home at ease" could not help beinl
impressed with the priyations of
2 who dragging their sledges over ;
wilderness of ice, have but this homel,
I mixture to sustain their energies anC
prepare them for their labors ahead
Great credit is due to DR.. Kane 70
, his skilful oxertions in this matter
! Journal of Commerce.
:. THE AUTHOR or "TuG SKETCH Book.
Idly saunter:ng down Broadway,
few weeks since, we CHANGED t.
=, meet Washington Irving ramblin.
, as listlessly up that noisy, dust,
!. thoroughlare. His eye undimmed
= and his step unfaltering, he SCENE,
to be enjoying the busy, bustlin;
! crowd that rushed by him, quite un
> conscious that man of genius, who's
r fame began so many years ago, wa
! that day abroad. 1t was in no sim
- ply curious mood that we were in
duced to turn and follow him, as h
n went chipping on, Cor we heard
n low singing tone as we passed him
q and look more attentively at so con
. spicuous a lion. lie seemed NOR
vigorous than we had seen him flo
many years, and lis foot went plump
i er upon the paveelent than formerly
J Dear, delightful old man! He was
r classic when we were schoolboys, an
p his mind had enriched our lteratur
before we were born. Continue
4 kind hearted, genial Godfrey Cray
. on, to perambulate a city thou has
\ done so much to honor and make ia
i nous; and far distant be the day tbs
+ records thy departure from the scene
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