, 1876-09-13
SUGAR DE NOVO (IV)
From the Trinidad Chronicle }
CONTINUED from Aris No. 40.

The early nAVlg0tOrs found all their
efforts to obtain particulars of the manu-
facture of the various articles of merchan-
die with which they freighted their ca
RAGS, frustrated by the jealousy of the in
habitants of India, who feared lest a know
ledge of their arts should be conveyed
westward, aud thus deprive them Of such a
lucrative outlet for their produce and
wares. The observation-disclosures, therefore,
although they succeeded in introducing
the cane from the Indies, failed to obtain
any details of the methods Of preparing the
'Indian salt" A writer Of the period
TELLS US how the Cane was cultivated in
Syria, by "great labor Of husbandmen >
and how, at harveSt-tlme, it was bruised in
mortars, and the Juice was 'set by 10 YES
sells until coucreted like snow, or white salt"
~ An unknown historian, writing about
the year 1924, makes mention of the fact
that the juice Of the new Indian reed,
expressed by an engine, was concreted by
fire, which is the earliest account we have
Of the use OF heat by Western nations.
At a later period the boiling-range Of India
would appear to have become known, as
all subsequent apparatus were constructed
upon that model. The cOpper-wall or
Jamaica train Of to-day, it will be observed,
is an exact imitation Of the apparatus used
in India, probably more than 1900 years
ago, even to the placing Of the fire at the
wrong end.
The history of the other operations in
cluded in the manufacture of raw sugar
may here be briefly told. Before the rise
of refining as o distinct art, the only ciari-
6cation OF the green liquor generally at.
tempted was by means OF wood ashes
although we find occasional mention Of
other agents being employed. The Ara
bians especially experimental much in
this direction. Even in the present CEN
fury, we find a Fellow Of the Royal Socie-
ty writing 1.-THE finest sugar of all is
made with lime uater (and sometimes wine)
and whites Of eggs" ~ In 1878, the
Assembly of Jamaica granted an exclusive
patent TO Mr.. Samuel Sainthill for the in
PRODUCTION Of the c"larifer, an invention of
the merits of which the writer has been
unable to gain any particulars. (3) Many
chemical agents have been proposed or
tried for clarifying cane juice during the
present century, of which the following
iR Q list:-
Clarifying and other Agents,
the use of which, in clarifying cane j%uice.
has been patented, recommended or tried
during the present century. a..
Acetic acid.
Acetate of lead.
Albumen.
Alcohol.
Alum.
Aluminium, oxide, phosphate, sulphate.
Ammonium, carbonate, hy%drosulphate.
Ashes of wood and plantain.
Asphalt.
Barium, carbonate, chloride, hydrosul-
phide oxide, saccharate.
Banks Of wild elm and oak.
B~i-carbonates of potash and soda.
III Albertus Agnensis. 1l08
[21 Houghton's Hus6aHdry.
ri IF any Jamaica reader will kindly send
che writer particulars of this patent, he will
be much indebted. Copies of the titles of
any pamphlets on sugar published in Jamaica
weuld also be particularly acceptable.
4] No attempt has been made to alter or
render uniform the nomenclature in this list.
The ingredients only of specially prepared
compounds, such as "Howard's fnings'' for
instance. are given. The agents or combina-
lions Of importance will be referred TO subse-
uuentlY.