The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-11
Worm, Il, Food.

The common rain worm is carefully gath
cred in China, and raw or roasted. considered
most palatabe food. SIllit is the poor main
ly that app -ciate, by the side of pleasant
taste, the cheapness of such provisions. But
what shall we say 20 the gourmet who praises
the luscious woodsnlpe, and sill more the
black plaSs from the inside that he carefully
places on his toast, and eats with feeling
akin to veneration? He is eating the worms
that lives in the sni pes intestinesl OF equal
value is tho famous palm worm of the West
Indies, which roasted on tiny spits and richly
spced forms one of the best dishes Of luxari-
GUS dinners It's near relation. the gru5u
worm of Java, is said 10 be richer still and
more delicate Nor do costly silk worms IS.
cape the fate IF all tha. is eatable; freed from
their cocoons, and daintily dressed. they
highly honored and largely swallowed by the
nobiemen of Madagascar. The Chinese. with
Their incredible power of overcoming all nat
ural instincts. go also farthest they raise
the larvae of the blue bottle flies in heaps of
putrid Ssh near the seacoast. and value the
produce more highly than the facility oil OBJ
tanning it would lead US to believe They
place themselves thus, with all their bos,ted
central superiority. on level witn the poor
Indians of the Ornoco. whom the traveller
Schomburg saw eagerly dig in the ground for
-
raw, while the children of the Flowery King
dom dress their worms with spices and
ces. CeutIpedes eighteen inches long, were
eagerly devoured by the Indian companions
of the greas Humboldt and leeches adorn the
tables Of the very princes Of Japan.
Turning to worms and their kin in the gres.
ocean. we find that the higher order of oys-
tiers and other shell fish are eaten by nearly
all nations. But leaving the more familiar
kinds aside it would seem that scarcely sin
gle inhabilant Of the sea. from the mere shad-
ow of a Jelly TO the toughest and toughest
Of shell-fish is spared BY the Unsuitable hun
ger Of man.
The shapeless sea nettles that hang with
out the shell on he sides Of submarine rocks,
or float about al the mercy of the waves, were
favcrite dish as early as the time Of Aristotle,
who praises their hard, firm flesh in the win
terv season while more fastidious Apicius re-
commends them as best in September. Now
they mainly eaten in Italy and the south
of France, where they divide the attention Of
sea -farins men with the countless medusa
that sail in crowds through the ocean. Roast
ed in OIL after flour has been strewn on them.
they are IS pslatabe as they are nutritious
The tough aud indigestibe sepia, which in
Venice the poor only venture to ceok. is a
favorie dish of the Greeks. especially during
their fasiS. They cut them lengthwise and
cook them fresh in satp-ter. which gives their
meat bright red color, or they dry them and
eat them AT leisure, cooked with herbs and
dressed with lemon juice. oil and pepper. The
smallest varieties. which are rarer. are said 10
be better and more delicate. Sea urchins
crowd ii vast numbers all around the shores
Of Europe. Africa and the East Indies: thew
feed upon crabs and sea-ne, Ties, and are in
tarn, ea:cu by millions. Their bright saffron
yellow bodies may be seen in every market
from the Gauges TO the Loire. and from Be-
mares 10 Marseilles They furnish an ample
proportion Of the daily bread OF the lower
classes. Blu in all that pertains 10 due apper-
citation Of worms-if that term is admissi-
ole-,he Chinese musE be s.an acknowledg-
ed as feast masters. They ascribe to molusks
peculiar virtues. and pay most extravasant
sae7s Tor their favorite kinds. Among these
'he trepang holds probably the first rank--an
ugly shapeiess. fearfully smelling ho,othuria
OF Indian seas Thousands OF MALAY. Eng
lsh ana American vessels are anaualiv busy
IA those waters 10 catch the disgusting. worm
shaped animal Its principal homes are the
coral banks of the South Sea and Australia
waters: but Chinese fishermen 90 as far as
New Gunea. nd American ships yo 10 the
/ Caroline Islands. IN pursuit OF this favori.e Of
the Chinese taste. The creates, market for
the trepsn- IS AaesSsar where no. less tha,
/ shirtv-six varieties are exposed for sale. the
choicest OF which bring incredible prices
/ The worm is caught either BY long points, that
are thrust down at random. or i brought us,
from the deep by stsllial and we'll paid divers
In Sunasra, ttey are thrown alive on heaps Of
coral lime, which induces them % disgoFge
their whole contents. as other places fhey are