ON FOODS OF FREE AND JAIL POPULATIONS OF INDIA. 197 
caste Hindoos, and fish when procurable. Milk and curdled milk (‘ dahee ”’) 
are largely consumed, and chiefly by the Hindoos ; vegetables are freely eaten ; 
parched grain and oil are much desired, and this food maintains health. The 
diet of the poorer classes varies much, as their income and the prices of food 
vary. The jail dietary varies with labour and day of the week, and main- 
tains health and strength. (Diet No. 21.) 
81. Apam Taymor, Esq., Rohtuck, quotes the different kinds of food in use, 
but does not give the daily quantities. The jail dietary varies with sex and 
labour, and somewhat with the week. Barley may be mixed with the wheat 
in the proportion of 4 to 35 parts. 1 part of bran out of every 40 parts of 
attah is taken out. Labouring prisoners have 4 ozs. of parched gram daily, 
except on Sundays. (Diet No. 22.) 
82. Dr. F. Parsons, Hissar, states that wheat is given most abundantly, 
and is preferred to many other grains; barley stands next in order. Rice is 
eaten by all classes; curdled milk, ghee, and buttermilk are also eaten. 
83. W. B. Burr, Esq., Loodiana, gives four valuable tables of the daily 
quantities of food. The field-labourers eat daily, in the hot weather, flour, 
made into unleavened chapattees, about 2 lbs., gram dal 10 ozs., parched gram 
4 ozs., melons, sugar-cane, and buttermilk in large quantities, and ghee 4 oz. 
In the cold weather, about 3 lbs. of flour from inferior grains, 8 ozs. of moth 
dal, 4 ozs. of parched grain or Indian corn, 8 ozs. of fresh vegetables, 3 oz. of 
ghee, and much buttermilk. The ordinary diet of caste-men, Ohwmars and 
Sweepers, &c., consists of flesh, including pork, largely stewed with vegetables 
and condiments, 3 oz. of ghee, 2 lbs. of flour of wheat and other grain, 4 ozs. 
of parched grain, and large quantities of raw vegetables and of buttermilk. 
That of the Cashmeeres is flesh, except pork, about 8 ozs., milk half-pint, 
cream 1 oz., rice 1lb., green tea 1dr., large quantities of fresh vegetables, 
1 lb. of wheaten bread, and 1 oz. of mustard-oil. The Jat Siekhs are strong, 
hardy, and industrious, and live chiefly on vegetables, eating flesh only a few 
times yearly; they do not usually drink spirits. The Punjabee Mussulmen 
are similar, but eat flesh two or three times a month. The Chumars are 
inferior; they eat less bread and dal, but more meat, and often that of dying 
animals; they eat opium and drink spirits. The Sweepers are rough and 
strong, and eat flesh, particularly that of a lizard, “Sanda.” The Cashmeeres 
are of good height, well made, and muscular; when they work out of doors 
they are healthy, but they generally are shawl-makers and of dirty habits ; 
they live well, and do not take opium or spirits. They are liable to ophthal- 
mia, scrofula, and diseases of the lungs. The jail diet varies with labour 
and day of the week, and the prisoners are healthy. (Diet No. 22.) 
84. J. Braxe, Esq., Simla, states that the daily dietary of a strong 
man is wheat or Indian flour 2 Ibs. and dal 4 ozs., or rice 24 ozs. and dal 4 ozs., 
with a variable quantity of vegetables. An old man eats 16 ozs. of the cereals 
and 4 ozs. of dal; milk and ghee are eaten sparingly on account of the cost ; 
wild birds, wild pigs, and goats are eaten freely when obtainable. The jail 
diet is attah 16 ozs., dal 4 ozs., salt 44 murhas; but the prisoners are detained 
only a few days. 
85. Dr. R. A. Mrs, Bhutty Territory, states that the district is arid, and 
the crops small and uncertain; hence the poor often subsist on wild fruits, 
bark, and seeds, and seek for quantity rather than quality. Wheat is the 
staple food, and about 200oz. of it is eaten. When rice is preferred, the 
quantity consumed is 1lb. He describes numerous articles of food, but does 
not give a daily dietary. The jail dietary varies with sex and labour. The 
bran is carefully taken from the wheat to the extent of 1 to 13 seer ina 
