TAP 
consequently he is frequently compelled to 
leave his position and pass to the opposite 
side of the loom, to ascertain wlfether he 
has been correct in his proceedings. When 
he is about to pot the material in the warp, 
he tirrns and examines the original ; then 
having furnished the broach with the co- 
lour required, he introduces it amongst the 
threads of the warp, which he brings across 
each other witlr his fingers, through the as- 
sistance of tlie coats or threads secured to 
the staff, and this operation is repeated with 
every change of tint. After the wool or 
silk is placed, he presses it close with the 
-reed or comb, and examining the picture, 
he makes the necessary amendments with 
the needle. Those subjects which are very 
large maybe worked upon by more than 
one weaver at a time. The method we 
have described is called the high warp, 
another, the low warp, though rather dif- 
ferent in the manner of weaving it, so nearly 
resembles the tapestry of the high warp that 
it is unnecessasy to describe it. 
TAPIR, in natural history, a genus of 
Mammalia of the order Beiiuse. Generic 
character: ten fore tqeth in each jaw; 
tusks in both jaws single and incurvated ; 
five grinders on each side in both jaws ; feet 
with three hoofs, and on the fore feet a false 
hoof. The only species is the T. Amtrica- 
nns. This is a native of South America, 
and when perfect in growth is about the 
size of a heifer. Its colour is a dark brown, 
and the male is distinguished by a species 
of very short proboscis. The tapir is per- 
fectly inoffensive, and considerably timid, 
seeking safety in flight, and often plunging 
into waters, in which he swims with great 
rapidity, and in which sometimes he pro- 
ceeds for a tong way, ranging at the bottom 
at a very great depth; in this respect re- 
sembling the hippopotamus. When resting, 
the tapir sits in the manner of a dog. In 
feeding, its trunk is employed m drawing 
into its mouth the vegetables which consti- 
tute its nourishment. In some parts of 
Guiana it has been domesticated, and, when 
taken young, is easily familiarized. Its 
flesh is not excellent for flavour or delicacy, 
hut is nevertheless used for food ; and its 
skin, which is of uncommon toughness, is 
converted to various purposes of usefulness. 
It is slow in its movements, sleeps duripg 
the greater part of the day, and is destroyed 
by the Indians, who decoy it by the imita- 
tion of its peculiar sounds, by poisoned ar- 
rows. It produces but one at a birth, in 
TAP ^ 
the care of which it is extremely assiduous 
and affectionate. 
TAR, a thick, black, unctuous substance, 
obtained from old pines and fir trees, by 
burning them with a close smothering'heat : 
it is used for coating and caulking ships, &c. 
and varioirs other purposes. 
TARANTULA. See Aranea. 
TARCHONANTHUS, in botany, Afri- 
can jie«-6one, a genus of the Syngenesia Po- 
lygamia iEqnalis class and order. Natural 
order of Nucamentaoeae. Corymbiferae, 
Jussieu. Essential character: calyx one- 
leafed, commonly half seven-cleft, turbi- 
nate ; seeds covered with down ; receptacle 
villose. There are three species: these 
plants are all natives of the Cape of Good 
Hope. 
TARE, is an allowance for the outside 
package, that contains such goods as can- 
not be unpacked without detriment, or for 
the papers, threads, bands, &c. that inclose or 
bind any goods imported loose ; or, though 
imported in casks, chests, &c. yet cannot be 
unpacked and weighed net. Several sorts 
of goods have their tares ascertained, and 
those are not to be altered or deviated 
from, in any case, within the port of Lon- 
don, unless the merchant thinking himself, 
or the officers of the crown, to be prejudic- 
ed by such tares, shall desire that the goods 
may be unpacked, and the net-weight taken; 
which may be done either by weighing the 
goods in each respective cask, &c. net, or 
(as is practised in East India goods particu- 
larly) by picking out several casks, &c. of 
each size, and making an average, compute 
the rest accordingly. But this must not be 
done without the consent of two surveyors, 
attested by their hands in the landwaiter’s 
books; and in the out-ports, not without 
the consent of the collector and surveyor. 
And as to those goods which have not their 
tares ascertained, two surveyors in London, 
and the collector and surveyor in the out- 
ports, are to adjust and allow the same, in 
like manner. Sometimes the casks, &c. are 
weighed beyond sea, before the goods are 
put in ; and the weight of each respective 
cask, &:c. marked thereon Cas is usual for 
most goods imported from the British plan- 
tations), or else inserted in the merchant’s 
invoice ; in which case, if the real invoice 
be produced, and the officers have satisfied 
themselves (by unpacking and weighing 
some of them) tliat those weights are just 
and true, they do then, after having reduced 
them to British weight, esteem them to be 
