M&D p.71 -- Ketjap

[thomas vieth]

All I can guess it could be some sort of soybean sauce or maybe even a 
more liquid version of sambal oelek and related items. But it's only 
guesswork. 
Thomas

On Fri, 2 May 1997, KENNETH HOUGHTON wrote:

>      Yes, but what are the ingredients?  It's unlikely (at best) to be 
>      tomato-based. (New World fruit, after all)
> 
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
> Subject: M&D p.71 -- Ketjap
> Author:  paul.murphy at utoronto.ca (Paul Murphy) at dbnaccip
> Date:    5/2/97 1:51 AM
> 
> 
> ****Mason & Dixon spoiler****
>      
> Not much of a spoiler, but this is in response to the question of 
> anachronism raised with respect to the discussion of *Ketjap* on p.71. 
> According to the on-line OED, 'ketchup' entered the English language in 
> 1711; Chinese *koechiap*, Malay *kechap*, Dutch *ketjap*.
> Since Mason and Dixon are conversing about the 'Malay' food they're eating 
> while sojourning in Dutch-speaking South Africa, the term seems 
> historically accurate -- I'm no historian of condiments, but I imagine the 
> 18th century spice trade would allow for the appearance of Indonesian 
> Ketjap (which one can still find in just about any present-day Dutch 
> supermarket) in the place and time TRP is describing.
>      
> Cheers,
> Paul
>      
>      
>