661 



of starch * how can we deny, that chemistry 

 may one day succeed in converting those enor- 

 mous vegetable masses, those textures of hard- 

 ened fibres, that compose the trunks of the trees 

 of our forests, into alimentary substances? Such 

 a discovery, to be important, must be founded on 

 cheap and simple processes: but in this suppo- 

 sition, which appears scarcely probable, it would 

 change the organization of political bodies, the 

 price of labour, and the actual distribution of 

 the population of the Globe. In rendering man 

 more independant, it would tend to dissolve the 

 bonds of society, and to sap the foundations of 

 industry and civilization. 



The little village of Uruana is more difficult 

 to govern, than the greater part of the other 

 missions. The Otomacs are a restless, turbulent 

 people, with unbridled passions. They are not 

 only fond to excess of the fermented liquors from 



* Starch. Oak timber. 



Oxygen 49*68 41.78 



Carbon 43 55 52 53 



Hydrogen 6-77 5-69 



10000 100 00 



The unwholesome bread of the Laplanders, called birch- 

 bread and pine bread, is made from the alburnum of trees ; 

 but they have lately succeeded in making cakes somewhat 

 nutritive, with a mixture of wheaten flour and rasped wood 

 of the oak. 



