is as pleasant and refreshing as any kind of jelly whatsoever.
And as few countries perhaps can boast of a greater number
of species of the Fuel and Ulvee than are found on the
coasts of the British islands, future generations may discover
those nutritive qualities which many of them contain, and
not limit the use of them as articles of food to a few species,
which is the case at present; for excepting the Escul'entus or
Tangle, the Saccharimis, better known in Iceland than in Britain,
the Palmatus or Dulse, which the Scotch say is not only
rich and gelatinous but communicates to other vegetables
with which it may be mixed the fragrant smell of violets, and
that species of Ulva well known on the coast of Wales by the
name of Laver, all the rest seem to be neglected.
But the Chin-chou of China, called more properly Hai-tsai
or sea-vegetable, is not only used as an article of food, but
is employed both in China, Japan and Cochinchina as a
gummous or gelatinous substance, for giving additional transparency
to large sheets of paper or coarse gauze used for
windows or lanterns. The latter, made sometimes of slips
of bamboo crossed diagonally, have frequently their lozengeshaped
interstices wholly filled with the transparent gluten of
the Hai-tsai.
The Cochincliinese collect likewise many of the small succulent
or fleshy plants, which are usually produced on salt
and sandy marshes, as the Salicornia, Arenaria, Crithmum
Maritimum or samphire, and many others, which they either
boil in their soups or stews, or eat in a raw state to give
sapidity to rice which, in fact, is with them the grand support
-of existence. Of this grain they have the art of making a
kind of vermicelli, usually called Lock-soy, which is perfectly
transparent, and held on that account in high estimation both
in Japan and China; to the latter of which it is exported in
considerable quantity. I t communicates to soup a gelatinous
consistence, but at the same time preserves its form and
transparency, qualities which would lead one to doubt
if rice be the only ingredient in its composition. The
Chinese Lock-soy is opaque.
By the natives of warm climates animal food is seldom
ranked among articles of the first necessity, and is sparingly
used. And though fish is the common sustenance of those
who inhabit the sea-coasts, yet rice made more gustable by a
little salt, a pod of capsicum or pepper, or a leaf of some of
the acidulous maritime vegetables above-mentioned, furnishes
a grateful meal to the great mass of Oriental nations. All
beyond this article and its accompaniments, even the areca nut
and betel leaf, as well as opium and spirituous liquors, may be
considered in the light of luxuries. Of <rice, in Cochinchina,
they are almost certain of two plentiful crops every year, one
of which is reaped in April, the other in October. Fruits of
various kinds, as oranges, bananas, figs, pine apples, guavas,
pomegranates, and others of inferior note, are abundantly produced
in all parts of the country. They have very fine yams,
and plenty of sweet potatoes. Their small breed of cattle does
not appear to furnish them with much milk; but of this article
indeed, like the Chinese, they make but a very sparing use,
not even as food for their young children. These little creatures
were very numerous in Turon, and appeared remarkably
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