The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-09-11
PEOPLE WHO EAT CLAY.
PEcULlARlTlEs OF THE sANDHlLL-
ERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Kaoun as an Article of Food, with
Yellow Mari for Dessert-A Diet
which Prevents Dyspepsia and Lung
Troubles.
1t 10 not generally known, but is true, that
there exists not far from this city race of
white people called "Sandhillers,r who arc
veritablc clay eaters This morning, in com
pany with IA young physician OF this city,
your correspondent was enjoying jaunt into
pine groves which skirt the eastern confines
OF Columbia, and we We're proceeding toward
the sandhills when we were accosted by an
aged mondicant, who, thrusting an old
greasy piece of paper into my unwilling
hand, exclaimed piteously: For Gods sake,
read il, gentlemen" My friend, who was
prejudiced against beggais in general and
"Sandhillers" in particular, was for steInly
rcbuking the old man. when something pc
culiarly touching in the applicants look ar-
rested that uncharitable purpose and I'M
PEELED him TO heed the whisperings of his
nobler nature and 10 relieve the distress of
the poor wretch. |, tso could not restrain
Christian impulse, and bcstOwing what
aims | could afford l glanced at tho paper
which had been forced into my hand. This
was what is contained
To ALL WHOM IT MAY CoNcERN: This Ger
tiiies that tins bearer, who IL both worthy and
needy, is over one hundred years old Assist him.
all who can
l handed the centenarian his document
and he shambled off, chucSling over his good
fortune and jingling the coins in his bony
hand. Hero, then, was genuine centena-
riaii, and we did not begrudge what we had
given him
AN UNEARTnLY vIsAGE.
But what a strange looking being he was!
How unearthly his visage, how yellow his
complexion, low shrunken his cheeks what
pleading yet lustcrless eyes, and, withal, what
miserably cmaciated and drawn-up bodyl
Such type ofn man is not to BE- met with
every day l had. Il is true, encountered in
the streets of Columbia men and women not
unlike him, but never before had gazed
upon his identical counterpart.
DO you know that he is a real clay-eaterir
asked my companion.
"A whati' exclaimed l.
why, a man that lives on clay--one whose
principal diet is 'kaolin, or u sort Of smooth
critics., moist, white clay which abounds
hereaboutsn
But you don't think I'm so credulous as to
believe that this man, who is over 100 years
~ t3Nf AAtAo ASAAcNSA lAlAH kuDlt lOnHeN-
ity by subsisting OH tasteless clayf1
ut is strange, but nevertheless true. hive
made long study Of the subject, and have
ascertaincd some curious facts concerning the
clay eating Habit Now, to begin with, l
have seen the 'sandhillers of North and
South Carolina, some Of them not ten miles
from Columbia while taking their meals,
and have observed them consume cOnsderrl-
bic quantities of clay such as l described III
deed, have myself partaken of their frugal
repast.n
We'll what does it taste like, and how does
it Affect one" queried
1T is almost tasteless, but some of the cpl
cures profess to enjoy it bacause Of the deli
cate flavor it possesses. 1t is perfectly white
and wholly devoid of grit In fact, it is
nothing more nor less than the kaolin' OF
which plates, cups and saucers are made.
There is nothing disagreeabe abols il, and il
may he with impunity taken INTO the stom.
ack As an aliment it is not hurtful. It is
commended that it is productive of longevity
and that it wards off several diseases. There
are well authenticated instances Of surprising
longevity among clay eaters, and it is well
understood by such Of the faculty as have
studied the subject that they are exempt from
dyspepsia, never suffer with indigestion, and
one has never been known TO die Of consumIe
tion or 20 he troubled with lung complaints
ALLAYs HUNGER's PANGs
"Of course there is nothing succulent OF
nutritious in clay, but it allays the pangs OF
hunger. This it does by distending the wall.
Of the stomach. 1t is not to he supposed that
Elay can take the place of bread and meat as
an article Of food, but it does in a measure
supply their place
The dostor paused while / expressed aston.
shment mt what he told me Continuing. he
said:
In my country practice, which occnsion
ally carries me out into the sand hills loccn
sionally -ay, for although the 'Sandhill
rIS' are t:le sclliest looking, most radavereu.
and woebegone beings in the world. they ar,
the hcaltlhest). have good opportunity tc
study their peculiar life and habits They
can subsist on the most limited quantities OF
ANIMAL food; in fact they yet very littl,
mcat-a poor quality of bacon about twice d
week. They are lazy and thriftless. They
are not happy. Discomfort il their norma
state Of feeling. But they are troubled will
very few wants, and these are supplied
easily
DO they eat only the white clay" I inter
rupted
As II general thing" was the answer, but
sometimes they vary their menu and garnisi
their board by the addition of a yellowisl
sort OF mari, which is said to be scarce, ant
which, it is claimed, Possesses n sweet taste
This serves them as dessert They, how
ever, draw the Fine at red clay This no
even their iron-slad stomachs could digest
l asked "A gawky old 'Sandhiller' if he eve
ate the red clay, and this was his response
No. surree. hev occasionally he'd hricl
in my hat, but I'll be blamed il hnnke
after turning my bowels into brickyard. -
During our jaunt we met several Sand
nillers' who verified much Of what tn
young physician had said on the subject o
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