and about \ or f inch thick, then wrapped in cloth and put each 
in a little rattan tray or dish, they are put over a low fire, till 
they are firm enough. Some are coloured yellow by a decoction 
of the seeds of a capsular plant brought from China, the seeds 
being steeped in water and the liquid brushed over the top ot the 
cheese. A little alum and a quantity of powdered gypsum 
is sometimes at least added to the bean cake during its manu- 
facture. The former probably to make it whiter, the latter pro- 
bably to increase the' weight. The Chinese seem to be very 
fond of adding gypsum to such manufactured articles. It das 
been mentioned in an earlier Bulletin that it is mixe ni i 
^ Bean^cheese is a very popular article of food with all kinds 
of natives, and costs about one cent a cake, and about 6 or 
cents a' pound. — E d. 
