1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

354

inebriation, as that of drinking beer or other alcoholic

is questionable whether any advantage is

liquor,

it

gained by this supersession. The properties of the Saratoga water, situated some seven miles from that of Ballston, are also of a very remarkable nature. They abound to such an extent in a species of gas, that we are told a very nice sort of breakfast bread is baked from them instead of yeast. The Romans considered warm water an agreeable drink at the conclusion of the chief repast of the day. This may explain why Julius Caesar was always taken ill after dinner. Many drinks are derived from animals, either wholly as milk and blood, or from animals and vegetables in common, as oil. It is said that there are people here in England who like — so strange is the diversity of tastes — draught of oil from the liver of a cod as much as an Esquimaux approves of a draught of the oil of a por- poise or a seal. Of milk a large catalogue of drinks can be reckoned. First, there are the different kinds of milk of different animals, as the milk of asses, of women, of goats, of cows, of sheep, of reindeers, of camels, of sows, and of mares. Then it may be swallowed as it is drawn, or in the form of whey, or curdled. Ghee is a common favourite throughout all India. It is a stale butter clarified by boiling and straining, and then set to cool, when it remains in a semi-liquid or oily state, and is used in cooking, or is drunk by the natives. In milk-beer, milk is substituted for water. Kef is