It is certain at least that spoons and forks were unknown to the Spartans, and some have conjectured that a shell, and even an egg-shell, may have served the purpose. Those who are desirous of knowing more about the Table-Supellectile of the ancients, may consult Casaubon's Notes on Athenæus, iv. 13. p. 241.; "Barufaldo de Armis Convivialibus," in Sallengre's Thesaurus, iii. 741.: or Boettiger's Dissertation above referred to. How little ground the passage in Plutarch, De Sanitate Tuendâ, afforded for the composition will appear from the passage, which I subjoin, having found some difficulty in referring to it:
Οι Λακωνες υξος και 'αλας δοντες τω μαγειρω, τα λοιπα κελευουσω εν τω ιερειω ζητειν.
This only expresses the simplicity of Spartan cookery in general.
To revert to the original question propounded, however, I think we must come to the conclusion that coffee formed no part of the μελας ζωμος.
S.W.S.
Footnote 2: [(return)] Manso's word is Tunke.
A HINT TO INTENDING EDITORS.
Allow me to suggest, as an addition to the sphere of usefulness of the "NOTES AND QUERIES," that persons preparing new editions of old writers should give an early intimation of the work on which they are engaged to the public, through your paper. Very many miscellaneous readers are in the habit of making notes in the margins of their books, without any intention of using them themselves for publication, and would be glad to give the benefit of them to any body to whom they would be welcome; but as matters are now arranged, one has no opportunity of hearing of an intended new edition until it is advertised as being in the press, when it is probably too late to send notes or suggestions; and one is also deterred from communicating with the editor from doubts whether he will not think it an intrusion: doubts which any editor who did wish for communications might dispel by making such an announcement as I have suggested.
R.R.