The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-10-01
CLAW Eating.


haye been used from time immemorial
as food product.
Clays are essentially formed of sill
lea, alumina, and water in variable
proportions, colored by metallic oxides,
and presenting themselves in amor
phous masses which are smooth and
unctuous to the touch, and upon which
the friction Of the nail leaves shin
ing trace as upon soap. They adhere
to the tongue, and form with water a
fine, pliable paste that may be given
all sorts of forms. Some samples of
edible earth consist, as in the case of
tripoli, of microscopic fossilized shells
and innumerable fresh water infusoria
How man came to have recourse to
such food we do not know, but the
same circumstances haye led to like
results in countries that are very re-
mote from each other. THE practice
of eating considerable quantities of
clay" says the learned naturalist Gui-
bourt, las necessary supplement to
too insufficient a nourishment is almost
universally diffused among the savage
peoples Of Africa, America and Asia. :"
The Ottomacs, people of South
America, regularly consume from a
pound to a pound and half Of clay
per day, which satisfies their hunger
without injuring their health. Among
the Indians Of the banks Of the ANA
zon, clay forms part of the fare. even
when other food is abundant. Edible
earth is sold in the markets Of Bolivia,
and kind which has an agreeable
odor is much esteemed among the Pc
ruvians. According to travellers, the
negroes of Jamaica have recourse to
clay only when there is a dearth of
other food, but they eat it without
repugnance. On the contrary, the
negroes of Guinea, transported to
America, seek an earth analogous to
that which they have been accustomed
to, and, not always finding it, have re-
course to pipe clay.
In the kingdom Of Siam the women
and children are clay eaters. In Java,
says Labillardiere, they make a sort of
cake out of a ferruginous clay which
the men eat when they wish to become
lean. and which the women use during
pregnancy. 1t is an object of COM
merce in AMMAN and Tonkin.
1t is a question here, then, Of a
widespread habit, that we find in all
latitudes, from the equator to the po-
lar regions-in Guiana, New Caledo-
MIA, Siberia. and Terra del Fuego-
and one that has been preserved among
some Of the descendants Of the Portu-
guese navigators. ''There are still
women in Portugal" says Guibourt
"who delight to eat the red Boucaors
clay from which the alcavozzas are
made;" and he adds: Il do not think
that SO widespread custom has the
effect merely of momentarily appeas.
ing hunger, without result servicea.
BILE to nutrition. 1t is probable, on
the contrary, that the instinct of pres
ervation has made known to these
miserable peoples species of clays thai
contain certain quantity OF organic
matter derived from vegetable detritus
and that this material contributes tc
sustain them in those months of tht
year during which more efficient
food fails them" This reasoning ap
pears very plausible, and if the more
moderate use Of edible earth has beer
preserved during years Of abundance
it is doubtless so AS not to lose the ira
dition 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 Sumatra submit an edible
clay to a peculiar preparation. They
reduce it to paste with water, sepa
rate all foreign matter from it, ant
spread it out in thin layers, which they
cut into small cakes and cook in
saucepan over charcoal fire. Eacl
of these little cakes, which is rolled
up, looks like piece of dry bark
The color is sometimes that of slat,
and sometimes brown. The clay il
also sometimes formed into rudel.
modelled figures of men and animals
This singular food has slightly arc
matte flavor that offsets it's earth,
taste.-Science ct Nature.