EARTH-EATING AND THE EARTH-EATING HABIT IN INDIA. 255 



facts so far collected, we are hardly able to adopt the conclusions recently suggested by 

 Mr. Ultra. 



III. The Materials used for Earth-Eating. 



When we come to consider the materials which are used by those who practise the 

 habit of earth-eating, we find the most extraordinary variety of material. Hitherto it has 

 usually been supposed that nearly all were either kaolin or fuller's earth, or something of 

 a similar nature. It seems, however, from the collection we have made, that this is by no 

 means the case, and that earth of almost every description, with the exception of sand, 

 can.be and is employed. 



We have collected the principal references to materials noticed as used in the past, 

 and a summary of them will well preface an account of the samples we have ourselves 

 collected. 



Under the title of Fuller's Earth, V. Ball remarked in 1881 : l " It is believed that earths 

 of this nature afford the principal part of those which are used as a comestible. The 

 practice of earth-eating is widespread over the world, and though there is not much in- 

 formation available on the subject in reference to India, the fact is known that these edible 

 clays trom different localities are to be had in most Indian bazars, and it seems possible 

 that the practice is not limited merely to pregnant women as is sometimes stated." 



In some parts of Western Sind, according to Mr. W. T. Blanford,' 2 a pale-greenish 

 clay is found which is used for washing cloth : it is also eaten by pregnant women. 



Baden Powell, 3 under the heading of Mitti gachni, describes a soft, saponine and drab- 

 coloured stone like fuller's earth sold in small pieces for medicinal purposes and for clean- 

 ing the hair. A stone of this nature is met with in all the bazars as mitti Multani or 

 gul-i-Midtani, and is imported in large quantities from the interior of the Western Range 

 to Dehra Ghazi Khan. There are three kinds of this clay. The first is white, which is 

 khajru or edible, and obtained from Bikanir and Jesalmir. The second is yellow or bhakri, 

 used by the poorer classes for dyeing clothes. The third is light-green, sabz mitti, used 

 for washing and cleaning the hair. A genuine sample of fuller's earth from Yara of Dera 

 Ghazi Khan marked mitti sabz khurdani is recorded by Baden Powell as being eaten by 

 women during pregnancy. 



An interesting note has been made by R. D. Oldham * in 1882, recording the occur- 

 rence of edible earth. " In the valley of Manipur is a small tila to the left of the main road 

 leading northwards from the city, there is exposed an unctuous clayey rock, which is dug 

 out and sold in the bazar, being esteemed a delicacy to which medicinal virtues are at- 

 tributed." In the Indian Museum, Calcutta, there is shown a sample of edible clay from 

 Manipur, and named clierbak. 



In the chief cities of India, edible clay is sold in the shops in a prepared form. The 

 patkhola of Calcutta is sold as a thin shell-shaped disc of a terra-cotta colour with a hole 

 in the centre, if inch in diameter, and weighing 6'25 grams or about a quarter of an 



1 Manual of the Geology of India (Economic Geology, i88i;_, V. 



2 Memoirs, Geological Survey of India, VII, p. 195. 



3 Punjab Products, p. 20. 



* " Geology of Manipur and the Naga Hills," Memoirs, Geological Survey of India, XIX, p. 241. 



