METHOD PRACTISED IX THE WEST INDIES. 



133 



productive of injury of another kind, for as it begins to 

 coagulate in the syrup, (at the heat of about 218° or 220° 

 F.,) it sinks and adheres to the sides of the tayche, forming 

 a crust, which raises the temperature of the boiling liquid, 

 and induces caramelization, at the same time depriving the 

 sugar of a portion of its carbon, (which is said to have the 

 effect of rendering the grain of the sugar smaller.) The 

 lime used in tempering is. generally burned with wood, or 

 under the coppers in contact with the ashes, and therefore 

 contains carbonate of potash. Caustic potash is by this 

 means generated in the liquor tempered with it, and 

 deliquescent compounds are formed with portions of the 

 sugar ; the lime is also often slaked with liquor from the 

 clarifler, thus forming a saccharate of lime to temper with 

 in the first instance. Some persons add the lime to the 

 liquor while cold, and this method is advocated by some 

 planters as superior to hot tempering, upon what grounds 

 I am ignorant. 



The processes of evaporation and concentration take place 

 in a range of copper boilers, placed over the same fire, the 

 heat from which is to a great extent absorbed by the mass 

 of brickwork which the peculiarity of their form renders 

 necessary. They are usually five or six in number, the 

 smallest of the range or tayche being immediately over the 

 furnace,, the flame from which afterwards acts upon the 

 others in passing to the flue. The size of the coppers is 

 progressively increased as they recede, the last being the 

 largest, and it is often capable of containing nearly as much 



