-—- ee a I IT I 
ON FOODS OF FREE .AND JAIL POPULATIONS OF INDIA. ~- 181 
it, but he thinks it will improve the condition of the prisoners. The former 
seale was also sufficient. 
9. Dr. B. Bosr, of Furreedpore, enters largely into the general value and 
influence of vegetable and animal aliments. Among the amylaceous ali- 
ments he includes rice, wheat, barley, sweet and common potatoes, yams, 
maize, ole, and green plantains. Rice is the national Bengalee food, and the 
others are only supplements. The daily quantity is 26 ozs. among the 
labourers, and 20 to 22 ozs. among the higher classes. © Various modes of 
cooking it are given. Fish, flesh, dals, vegetables, and condiments are eaten 
as largely as the means will allow; but they never supplant rice. Legu- 
minous seeds are treated as under the head of amylo-albuniinous aliments, and 
Dr. F. Watson’s analyses are quoted. The daily consumption is 3 ozs. Of 
oleaginous aliments, mustard-oil is particularly referred to, and its external 
use in rendering the skin soft, in protecting it from heat, in restraining evapo- 
ration*, and in various other ways, is pointed out. The cocoa-nut, both in its 
fluid and kernel, is treated of. About 1 oz. of oil is eaten daily. Sugars are 
eaten to the extent of about 2 ozs. a day, and are made into sweetmeats or 
festive aliments. The sweet fruits and other sources of sugar are largely con- 
sidered. Mucilaginous substances are eaten to the extent of 4 ozs. daily ; 
also acidulous and bitter foods and condiments in an unascertained quantity. 
Fish is a most important part of the diet, and is almost the only source of 
animal aliment. Milk is used not uncommonly. Butter is used only on 
special oceasions. Ghee is simply butter melted by heat, and will keep good 
for many months; it is less digestible than butter. Skimmed milk and 
buttermilk are eaten, and he describes various preparations of milk. Flesh, 
being dear, is seldom used by the working classes, whether Hindoos or Maho- 
medans : the latter consume fowls, beef, and mutton. Eggs are rarely eaten, 
but are sold. Hindoos eat he-goats, kids, turtles, pigeons, and ducks, and 
their eggs; but the kids must be sacrificed to their gods. Palaows, kaleeas, 
kormas, koptas, and katee-kababs are the most common dishes, and their pre- 
paration is described. The daily consumption of animal food, including fish, 
milk, and flesh, is 7 ozs. The jail dietary is varied with labour and duration 
of imprisonment, and is described. (Diets Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8.) 
10. R. Brown, Esq., of Sylhet,states that flesh is eaten verysparingly. Fowls 
are eaten occasionally. Fish is plentiful, and is a most important and staple 
animal food. The kinds of fish and the modes of cooking are described. Rice, 
from its cheapness, constitutes a large part of the dietary, and next in im- 
portance is dal. He names the vegetables and fruitsin use. Milk, ghee, &e. 
are very little used except by the ryots, who keep cows, and they use them 
in considerable quantities. A quarter-ounce of ghee is used toa half-pound of 
dal. Sweetmeats are eaten very sparingly by the poor. Spices and onions 
are used largely. Opium-eating prevails among Mussulmen and Hindoos, 
and drinking of spirits by those living in the hills. There are usually three 
meals daily, the chief of which is that at midday. The following are the 
quantities (see Table, p. 182). 
In some places fish is almost the only article of diet. The jail dietary 
_ Varies with race and labour, and is given. (Diets Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4.) 
BARRACKPORE. 
11. Dr. R. Fryer, Bancoorah, divides the inhabitants into two classes, of 
* As shown in my work, ‘ Health and Disease as influenced by the cyclical Changes in the 
Human System.’ “London, 1860. é 
