z8o The 3\(amral Hijlory 
another confiderable trade , the Fell-mongers fieep-skins^ after 
dreffedmd Jirained^ being here made into wares^viz^. Jackets^ 
Breeches^ Leather linings ^isfc. which they chiefly vent into Ser/^- 
JlAre^ VVih-JInre^ and Dorfit-fiire^ no Town in England having a 
trade like it in that fort of ware, 
I 74. Which two trades of the Towns Witney and Bampon^ 
are the moft eminent^ that are too, the moft peculiar of this Coun- 
tj. The Maulting trade of Oxford znd Henly on Thames^ 'tis true 
are confiderable, and Burford has been famous time out of mind 
for the making of Saddles ; and fo has Oxford had the reputation 
of the beft Gloves and Knives, of any place in England ; butthefe 
trades being not peculiar to the places where they are praftifed, I 
therefore pafs them by without further notice. 
175. But the i'/^rc/? trade of Oxford, though indeed it be not 
great, yet being practiced in few places, and the method known 
to fewer how it is made, its difcovery perhaps may be acceptable 
to fome, 1 (liall not therefore ftick to give a (liort account of it. 
Let them know therefore, that the fubftance w^e commonly call 
Starchy notwithftanding its pure is made of the (liortefi: 
and worft bran that they make in the MealJ/jops, worfe than that 
they fell to Carriers to feed their Hor/j ; This they fteep in a water 
prepared for that purpofe (by a foiution at firft of Roch-Alum, a- 
bout a pound to a Hogshead, which will laft for ever after) for ten 
or fourteen days in great tubs ; then 'tis taken and wafied through 
a large Ofier basket over three other the fower water of the fe- 
cond tub walking it into the firft ; and the fower water of the thirds 
lato the fecond; and clear water from the Pump wafliing it into 
the third, 
iy6. Whereby the way itmuft be noted, that only Pump wa- 
ter will ferve the turn to give it this laft wafiing, and continue 
the waters fowernefs for ever after, by reafon I fuppofe of the in- 
cifive particles of fait to be found in moft Pump waters (which are 
plain from their not taking Joap^ that are apt to work upon and 
feparate the fineftyfoirer yet fticking to the bran (notwithftanding 
the mill zrA fteve") which atdaft becomes ftarch. 
I 7 7. \¥hat remains in the basket at laft after the three wafiings^ 
is thrown upon the dung-hill, which, as they have found of late, 
becomes a very good manure for meddow land, and Oiould there- 
fore have been mentioned in the 70 §. of this Chapter, amongft 
the 
