SEA-WEEDS. 115 



simple process, about twelve per cent, of mannite ; 

 which Dr. Landsborough describes as very beau- 

 tiful, as purely white as loaf sugar, and almost as 

 sweet; and as having retained its properties for 

 four years from the time of the experiment. 



The Sweet Laminaria is eaten, boiled, when in 

 a young state, but it can be the food of those only 

 who are almost destitute of any other provision, 

 for it is neither palatable nor nutritious, though 

 valuable for manure, and for the kelp which it 

 affords. 



The people of Japan, according to Thunberg, 

 call this plant Komb. This traveller found it in 

 great abundance on the Japanese shores, and very 

 long and broad. When dried and cleansed from 

 impurities, it is used for several purposes, and 

 tough as it is, it is eaten occasionally, especially 

 when the people meet together to drink their 

 liquor called sakki. It is cut into pieces, which 

 by boiling become much thickened, and it is then 

 taken with other food. Sometimes it appears on 

 their tables uncooked, after having been well 

 scraped and cut into slips about two inches long, 

 which are folded in the form of a square, and tied 

 over with a narrow slip of the sea- weed. When 

 presents are made, about half a score, or even 

 a score of these squares are strewed about among 

 them. It is customary here, as elsewhere in the 

 East, to make many gifts, and it forms part of the 

 ceremonial to accompany them with a compli- 

 mentary paper, as it is termed, which is folded and 

 tied, and at each end of this is affixed a slip of the 

 Laminaria, about an inch broad. It is not always 

 easy to guess at the import of ceremonies of 

 nations whose tone of thinking and feeling is so 

 i 2 



