A Mandate of Salt

Going into this book i thought i would suffer because it's about salt. However, i'm finding out that it is actually very interesting. But i wonder, why would someone want to write about salt?

I had no idea the Chinese invented so many different things. I also had no clue that they relied on salt so much. I think it's really neat that the Chinese canned food. However, it doesn't sound too appetising. Especially the 100-day old egg. I really don't think i'd eat that one. I would probably make my friend Bryce eat it instead. Also, soy sauce once has fermenting fish in it... gag me! I can only imagine what it smelled like.

I was in awe when i read the story about natural gas. I think that's pretty much the coolest thing ever. Who came up with the idea to light it? I know i wouldn't have. I would have ran away screaming "Demons!" It would deffinetly seem like the underworld. It's really smart of them to set pots of water by the fire, too. The bamboo piping is another good idea. I think the bamboo piping looks like a roller coaster. But back to my point, the Chinese are so clever.

Salt seems like it was gold to them. To make a monopoly of the salt industry is insane. Did you know Lick Hill in Bulter was named "Lick Hill" because the creek that ran through that area had a lot of salt in it? The salt would collect along the banks and animals would stop to lick the salt. Also, my dad and i were pumping the oil wells this summer and we had to drain the water off of the top of the oil tank. The water you drain from it is salt water. I just thought i'd share this with you. :)