206 Miscellaneous. [April, 



IX. — Miscellaneous. 

 1. — Note on the description of the Iron Suspension Bridge near Sagur. 



In our account of Major Presgrave's bridge, vol. TI, page 538, there are a few 

 typographical errors, and inaccuracies of expression, which those interested in 

 similar works may desire to see corrected. 



In page 540, in lieu of " the tension, to be sustained at each point of suspension 

 would be 85.632 tons, including the load," we should have said, following the 

 authority of the printed account of the work, that the " tension of the bridge and 

 chains unloaded at either point of suspension, is estimated to be 95.632 tons 

 while supposing the clear portion of the platform, 190 feet by llj, or 2,185 

 square feet, to be crowded with men, at 69 lbs. per superficial foot, the loaded 

 bridge •will have a weight of 120 tons ; and the tension on each point of suspension 

 will result, 217.674 tons. This gives 10 tons for the maximum strain that can be 

 applied to the square inch of sectional area of iron. The general tension will of 

 course be less than half that quantity. There are 780 factory maunds of iron in 

 the bridge, which cost in its finished rate about 19| Ca. Sa. Its. per maund. 

 2.- — Mr. Previte'smode of preserving bread for Ships, &fc. 



We said nothing of Mr. Previte^s prepared milk, because we did not think that 

 its quality was very agreeable to the palate, in fact we doubt whether it be possible 

 to evaporate milk to dryness without changing its properties; but of Mr. Previt^'s 

 bread we can speak in the highest strain of encomium, from having made abreakfast 

 off his regenerated rusk of November last, in preference to other fresh loaves 

 and rolls on the table ! The mode of preservation adopted is simply to drive off 

 all the inherent moisture from the bread by a moderate heat, and hermetically 

 seal it in tin boxes until required. It is then exposed to steam, to supply the 

 natural moisture, and rebaked lightly and rapidly on the surface. 



Without detracting in any way from the merit of Mr. Previte's invention, we 

 may mention, on the authority of Lieut. Braddock, that the same principle has 

 been long practised at Madras. In the parching land winds in the interior, 

 when bread becomes perfectly dry and hard during a march, the native cooks 

 sprinkle it with water, and place it between two hot earthen pans over a fire ; the 

 steam penetrates, and softens the whole mass ; the heat is then raised, sufficiently to 

 rebake the surface. We do not know if the same simple plan prevails in Hindustan, 

 but the hint is well worth the consideration of travellers in our hot winds by land 

 or river. 



3. — Illustration of Herodotus' 1 account of the mode of obtaining gold dust in the 



deserts of Kobi. 



In Heeren's Asiatic nations, vol. 1, we find the following remarks on this 

 subject, commencing with an extract from Herodotus : 



" There are other Indians living near the city Caspatyras and the country of 

 Pactyica, (the city and territory of Cabul,) situated to the North of the rest of 

 the Indian nations, resembling the Bactrians, their neighbours, in their manner of 

 life. These are the most warlike of all the Indians, and the people who go to 

 procure the gold. For in the neighbourhood of this nation is a sandy desert, in 

 which are ants, less in size than dogs but larger than foxes, specimens of which 

 are to be seen at the residence of the king of Persia, having been brought from 

 that country. These creatures make themselves habitations under ground, throw- 

 ing up the sand like the ants in Greece, which they nearly resemble in appearance. 

 The sand, however, consists of gold-dust. To procure this the Indians make 

 incursions into the desert, taking with them three camels, a male one on each 



