“
A Scot who went to America in the days of sailing ships, when the voyage took three months or more, took with him a large supply of sowans. He made a big batch in a tub, and when it had settled, the water was poured off and the sediment allowed to dry until it could be cut like cheese. Then it was cut into cubes and stored in his travelling trunk for use on the voyage, with water supplied on the ship. Thus he arrived on America’s shore in much better condition than most of the ship’s passengers, many of whom died, especially children
.” (
- Hugh Mackay, the Gaelic Singer
)