45 Of Food. 



I saw some of it, and it appeared to me to be of that 

 kind which is commonly grown in the southern states 

 of North America. Indian corn of the growth of 

 colder climates is, probably, at least as heavy as wheat 

 which weighs at a medium about 58 Ibs. per bushel, 

 and I imagine it will give nearly as much flour.* 



In regard to the most advantageous method of us- 

 ing Indian corn as food, I would strongly recommend, 

 particularly when it is employed for feeding the poor, 

 a dish made of it that is in the highest estimation 

 throughout America, and which is really very good 

 and very nourishing. This is called hasty piidding, 

 and it is made in the following manner : A quantity of 

 water, proportioned to the quantity of hasty pudding 

 intended to be made, is put over the fire in an open 

 iron pot or kettle ; and, a proper quantity of salt for 

 seasoning the pudding being previously dissolved in 

 the water, Indian meal is stirred into it, by little and 

 little, with a wooden spoon with a long handle, while 

 the water goes on to be heated and made to boil ; great 

 care being taken to put in the meal by very small quan- 

 tities, and by sifting it slowly through the fingers of 

 the left hand, and stirring the water about very briskly 

 at the same time with the wooden spoon with the 

 right hand, to mix the meal with the water in such a 



* Since writing the above, I have had an opportunity of ascertaining, in the 

 most decisive and satisfactory manner, the facts relative to the weight of Indian 

 corn of the growth of the northern states of America. A friend of mine, an 

 American gentleman, resident in London (George Erving, Esq., of Great George 

 Street, Hanover Square), who, in common with the rest of his countrymen, still 

 retains a liking for Indian corn, and imports it regularly every year from America, 

 has just received a fresh supply of it by one of the last ships which has arrived 

 from Boston in New England ; and at my desire he weighed a bushel of it, and 

 found it to weigh 61 Ibs. It cost him at Boston three shillings and sixpence 

 sterling the bushel. 



