Retrospective Criticism. 227 



the elk, and the deer, by their more northern neighbours. The mascal grows 

 in the shape of a cabbage head, and may be found as large in size as a half 

 barrel ; it is thickly covered with sharp prickly protuberances to the length of 

 from 12 in, to 18 in. ; the root is very small ; the head has also a thick cover- 

 ing of leaves, much resembling in shape those of the plantain tree, which are 

 very juicy, and, when prepared for eating in the same manner as the head, 

 afford a sweet and nutritious beverage, answering every purpose to allay thirst. 



The process used for cooking this plant is very singular, yet, if digressed 

 from in a single instance, the mascal is spoiled and rendered unfit for use ; 

 it consists of digging a hole or pit in the ground to the depth of 4 or 5 feet, 

 which must be covered with a layer of heated rocks, on which the mascal is to 

 be placed with the root downward ; a thick coat of leaves and bushes must be 

 thrown over the mouth of the pit, over all of which is to be laid a thin coat 

 of dirt, just sufiicient to prevent the heat or steam from escaping. In this 

 situation must the mascal remain (according to Indian computation) for three 

 days and three nights, when it may be taken out, and will be found perfectly 

 cooked, and most delicious food. In flavour it resembles a ripe mellow peach, 

 each succeeding day adding to its good qualities ; it increases in excellence 

 by age. On this plant alone do the Indians subsist for months, being perfectly 

 satisfied with their food, and esteeming it above all other. About half a pound 

 of mascal is by them deemed sufficient to satisfy the cravings of hunger for a 

 day, and is always carried with them on their hunting and other excursions. 

 As I before observed, the leaves of this favoured plant contain a rich and de- 

 lightful beverage, altogether forming a most extraordinary combination of food 

 and drink, thus affording another illustration of the beneficence of a kind 

 Providence, in securing even to the wild and untutored savage a luxury which 

 their more favoured and civilised brethren might \ie\\ envy. 



I have seen the mascal so thick in some places as to form an almost impe- 

 netrable forest of thorns, as formidable in appearance as would be the same 

 number of glittering spears, covering the whole expanse of country as far as 

 the eye could see, in travelling through which the incautious or unwary will 

 be reminded by a gentle stab, of the necessity there is to have a care. 



I may also mention that many of the peasantry of the states of Lonora 

 and Chihuahua, bordering on this country, also cultivate the mascal in their 

 fields and gardens, and, I have been informed^ distil from it liquor, which is said 

 to be excellent, and not inferior to the best Jamaica rum. (^St. Louis (Mis- 

 souri) Argus, August, 1839, sent by J. M.) 



A'RT. Ill, Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Rogers's Boiter and Mr. Beaton^s Remarks. — I have perused with 

 great pleasure the accounts of Mr. Rogers's boiler by himself, p. 132., and the 

 remarks by Mr. Beaton, p. 129. There is little doubt that this mode of 

 warming must finally become universal; and that, at no distant period, flues 

 on the old system will be looked on much in the same light as the fireplaces 

 in the baronial halls of our ancestors, in some of vphich we are told a jackass 

 laden with wood was thrown, the chimney, no doubt, being wide enough to 

 allow the said ass to escape. The principal object of the present notice being 

 to correct a mistake Mr. Beaton has fallen into, and to suggest a mode of 

 correcting it, I shall commence by copying that part of his article which con- 

 tains it. 



" The boiler is yet susceptible of improvement. In its present form it is 

 made up of two concentric cones, Joined at top and bottom by flanges suffi- 

 ciently wide to leave a space of one or two inches between them for the water: 

 The fire is applied in the inner cone. There is a defect in the outset, which 

 is soon detected in practice. As soon as the fire begins to burn clear in the 

 inner cone, the heat is generated faster than the small body of water can 



