the nerves of taste. Any substance which will not dissolve in the fluids of the mouth will be found to be tasteless, and only recognized by the sense of touch in the tongue. Bitters and acids excite sensations of taste in the most diluted forms. One part of quinine in 1,000,000 parts of water can be easily distinguished from pure water. The sense of smell (q. v.) is affected by most substances as well as the sense of taste, and taste and smell together form what is called the flavor. The great use of the sense of taste is to direct in the choice of food, and in the lower animals it is even a surer guide than in man. Usually articles that are agreeable to the taste are desirable for food.
Tattoo′ing, a widespread custom among savages of marking the skin with figures by means of slight cuts or punctures and a coloring matter. It is almost universal in the islands of the Pacific. New Zealanders often cover the whole face and sometimes the chest, arms and other parts of the body with tattoo patterns. A boy is tattooed on entering manhood; the operation causes considerable pain but is born unflinchingly. A bone, edged with teeth, is dipped in a thick mixture of charcoal and water, and hammered through the skin by means of a piece of wood. The marks last for life, and look black on a brown skin, but are dark-blue on the skin of a European or American. Tattooing seems to have been common among the nations with whom the Jews came in contact, as they were forbidden to practice it. The Bedouin Arabs and many tribes of American Indians tattoo, and sailors all over the world print anchors and other marks on their arms.
Tauchnitz (touk′nits), Karl Christoph Traugott, a famous German printer and bookseller, was born at Grosspardau, near Leipsic, Germany, in 1761. Bred a printer, he began a small printing-business of his own in Leipsic in 1796. Publishing and type-founding were added, and it became one of the largest establishments of the kind in Germany. In 1809 he began to issue classic works in such fine and cheap editions that they circulated throughout Europe. By offering a prize of a ducat for every error pointed out, he brought out a remarkably correct edition of Homer. In 1816 he introduced stereotyping into Germany and applied it to music, an experiment which had not been tried before. The well-known Tauchnitz edition of English authors, which numbers over 3,700 volumes, was begun in 1842 by his nephew. The older Tauchnitz died in 1836.
Taun′ton, Mass., county-seat of Bristol County, on Taunton River, 35 miles south of Boston. The falls of the river furnish water-power for its many factories. Taunton has long been noted for its manufacture of stoves and printing-presses, brick and iron, and its copper-works are the oldest and largest in the United States. Other products are tacks, machinery, firebrick, crucibles, cotton, flannel, silver-plated ware and solid silverware. Taunton River is noted for its herring and shad fishing. There are a public library, Registry Building, Morton Hospital and the state insane asylum. Several ponds, many shade-trees and the green — a public square — help to beautify the place. There also is a fine bronze statue of Robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, occupying a conspicuous place, Taunton being Paine's home. Relics are preserved in Historical Hall, a building owned by the Old Colony Historical Society. Taunton has an excellent public-school system and Bristol Academy, located here, was incorporated in 1792. Taunton was settled in 1638 by a company from Taunton, England. It became a city in 1864. The site was known to the Indians as Cohannet. It was King Philip's favorite hunting-ground, and during King Philip's war it was saved from attack by the king's friendship for one of the citizens. Population 34,259.
Tau′rus, a range of mountains in Asia Minor, which forms the water-shed between the waters flowing into the Mediterranean and those flowing into the Black Sea. There are two divisions of the range, the Taurus on the south and the Anti-Taurus running northeast. Snow-covered mountain-tops are numerous, rising above thick forests that everywhere mantle the mountain sides. The highest peak is Arjish Dagh in the Anti-Taurus range (13,100 feet). Other noted peaks are Bulghar Dagh (11,400 feet), Gok Dagh and Ak Dagh, each 9,800 feet. The principal pass between Syria and Asia Minor, called in early times the Cilician Gates, is formed by the valley of the upper Cydnus.
Tax′es are levied on property and persons for the support of a government. In early times rulers often raised revenues by means of property owned by the government or crown or belonging to the king or prince himself. The possessions of subjects were often confiscated outright, fines were imposed, and in Europe for many years crimes were punishable by the payment of a stated sum of money. The Jews paid taxes mainly in the form of the first fruits of their lands and the firstborn of their flocks, and it was the heavy burden of taxation that caused the revolt of the Ten Tribes after the death of Solomon. In Athens a royalty on the products of the mines, import-duties, market-licenses, assessments on wealthy citizens and tribute from dependent nations were some of the ways used for raising money. In Rome, under the republic, to the spoils of conquered nations and their tribute were
