Water biscuits

[GuavaHalf]

I've just come back from a very pleasant lunch which finished with cheese and biscuits. While eating a question occured to me. Why is one of the driest things I have ever put in my mouth called a water biscuit?

[Headtime]

According to my Carr's Water Biscuit packet, these biscuits appeared in the late 19th Century as a refinement of the ship's biscuit. "Water instead of fat was used to blend the dry ingredients in order to keep the biscuits fresh on long journeys" However looking at the ingredients on the packet, the second largest ingredient after wheat flour is Hydrogented Vegetable Oil, And no mention of water anywhere! I reckon they've changed the recipe since those seafaring days.

[wzeilinga]

Is baking powder gluten free