Clay-eaters. 229 



Central Amazonia. Here we first noticed the singular 

 habit among the children of eating clay. This habit is not 

 confined to the Otomacs on the Oronoco, nor to Indians 

 altogether ; for negroes and whites have the same propen- 

 sity — Mr. Hauxwell found it impossible to restrain his own 

 children. Bates ascHbes the morbid craving to the meagre 

 diet. This may be true to some extent, but it is certainly 

 strange that the extraordinary desire to swallow earth 

 (chiefly unctuous clays) is found only in the tropics, where 

 vegetation is so rank and fruit so abundant. 



