Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-11-07
Z

In MANY countries certain ctays hav-
been used from time immemorial as 3
food product.
Claws are essentially formed of silica,
alumina, and water in variable proper
tons, colored by metallic oxides. and
presenting themselves in amorphous
masses witch are smooth and unctuous
to the touch, and upon which the fric-
ton of the naih leaves a shining trace IS
upon soap. They adhere to the tongue,
and form with water . fine, pliable paste
that may be given all sorts Of forms.
Some samples of edible earth consist, 80
in the case OF tripoli, OF microscopic fos-
silized shells and inDumerable fresh
water infusoria.
1.-The practice Of eating considerable
quantities OF clay says the learned nat
uralist Guibourt, 'as a necessary supp
ment to too insufficient a nourishment is
almost universally ditTused among the
savage peoples of Africa, America ard
Asia" The Ottomacs.a people of South
America. regularly consume from a pound
to a pound and q half Of clay, which
satisfies their hunger without iniuring
their health. Among the Indians on the
banks of the Amozon clay forms a part
Of the fare, even when other food is
fabundant. Edible earth is sold in the
markets of Bolivia, and a kind which
has an agreeable odor is much esteemed
among the Peruvians.
In the kingdom Of Siam the women
and children are clav-eaters. In Java,
says L~ablllardiere. they make a sort Of
cake out of a ferruginous clay, which the
men eat when they wish to become lean.
1t it an object of commerce in AMMAN and
Tonqnin.
1t Is a question here, then. Of ? wide
spread habit, that we find in all ATTITUDES,
from the equator to the polar regions
in Guiana, New Caledonia, Siberia, and
Terra del Fuego-and one that has
been preserved among some of the de-
seendants Of the Portuguese navigators.
There are still women in Portugal"
says Guibourt, "who delight to eat the
red Boucaros clay, from which the alca-
vozzas are made" and he adds, Il do
not think that SO widespread a custom
has the effect merely Of momcntarily ap-
peasing hunger, without a result ser
viceable to nutrition. 1t is probable, on
the contrary, that the instinct of preser-
walton has made known t these miser-
able peoples species of CLAWS that con-
tain a certain quantity of organ c mat
ter derived from vegetable detritus, and
that this material contributes TO sustain
those months of the year during which
a more efficient food fails them" This
reasoning appears very plausible, and if
the more moderate use of the edible
earth has been preserved during years OF
abundance it is doubtless SO as not to
lose the tradition of it. and in order to
remember a resource that may become
valuable at a given moment.
The Indians Of the Dutch colonies OF
Java and Sutnatra submit an edible CLAY
to a peculiar preparation. They reduce
it to a paste with water, separ; e all for
cign matter from it, and spread It out in
thin layers, which they cut INFO small
cakes and cook over a charcoal tire. Each
Of these little cakes which is rolled up,
looks like a piece Of dry bark. The
color is sometimes that of slate and some
times brown. The clay is also some
times. formed into rudelv modelled fig
lrcs of men and animals. This singular
food has a slightly aromatic h~vor that
offsets its earthly taste.-Sctence an
-Naturs.