452 Official papers on Isinglass. 



rupees per viss, according to its scarcity or otherwise. 

 By adopting the method I have proposed of advancing, 

 the cured sound may be procured at 1 rupee per viss, 

 (or 27 rupees per maund,) and there is little doubt, but a 

 very few seasons would have the effect of reducing this rate 

 considerably, owing to the simple process, and the absence 

 of all difficulty in the curing ; merely extracting from the 

 fish, removing the outer skin, and drying in the sun. The 

 sound is used by the Chinese as an article of diet, and is 

 prepared as follows : — After a thorough cleaning with cold 

 water, and being perfectly free from the thin skin and 

 other extraneous matter which adheres to it in its dry 

 state, it is allowed to dry; after which it is placed in a 

 baker's oven, and heated until it becomes brittle and ex- 

 panded to about four times its original size, in this state it 

 is soaked in water, and when soft, cut into small pieces 

 and boiled with any description of animal food ; composing 

 one of the various dishes in which gluten is contained as 

 shark's fins, edible bird's nests, and Bech de mar, or sea 

 slug, it forms an indispensible article of Chinese " cousine" 

 There appears to be some tact required in the process of 

 baking the sound. The Chinese affirm that if unskilfully 

 managed in this process, it becomes tough and incapable 

 of being reduced to a soft state, thereby rendering it useless 

 as an article of diet. Little can be said on the habits of 

 any of the fish forming the subject of these remarks ; in- 

 quiries on this head are rendered abortive by the apathetic 

 manner in which the Burmese treat such subjects ; they know 

 the fish from the circumstance of its being caught, nor do 

 they trouble themselves further in the matter ; and as few 

 will give themselves the trouble of extending their opera- 

 tions when a certain quantity will suffice for their present 

 necessities, it is therefore not be expected that information 

 of moment can be obtained from them. The approaching 

 dry season will afford an opportunity of advancing the in- 

 terest already taken in this matter, and it shall be my object 



