Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-09
a CURIOUS CHAPTER ON FOOD.

CURIOUS CHAPTER ON FOOD.
The diversity prevailing in different nations
If reference to articles of food seems to confirm
in its literal sense the proverbial saying that
lone mans meat is another msn's poison. -
Many an article Of food which is in high esteem
IN one country is regarded in others with alb
horrence, which even famine can hardly sur
mount.
In the Shetland Islands il is said that crabs
and Holsters abound, which the people catch
for the LOndsn market, but refuse to eat even
half-starved.
The John Dory is reckoned by epicures one
Of the choicest Of fish; but in Devoushire,
where it abounds, and also in ireland, it used
to be thrown away as unfit for food. There
seems to be some superstition connected with
this, as 1t is said that Deyonshire cook fatty
refused to dress it,
Eels, which are abundant and of good quality
1 Cumberland and Westmoreiand, and also in
Scotland, are regarded by the people there
with as much disgust as snakes.
Skate, which is in high estimation in England
in Ireland is hardly ever eaten except by th
fishermen.
Scallops, on the other hand, which are reck-
oned dainty in Ireland, are hardly ever eaten
in England; and, although they are abundant
on many OF the coast, few of the English have
any idea that they are eatable
The cuttle6sh (that kind which produces the
inky fuid), althoug "a found on our coasts, is not
eaten by Us. But at Naples, it is highly es-
teemed, and travellers report that it tastes like
veal.
Cockchafers are candied, and served up with
other confectionery, by the Italians.
The hedgehog no one thinks Of eating in
England except the gypsies, and some who
have joined them, report that it is better than
rabbit.
The sailors in the English and Dutch whale
chips do not eat the flesh of the whale; but
IN -. - F--ss -
known skill in cookery are said to make q
palatable dish of it,
By almost all the lower classes in England
yenison and game Of all kinds are held in alb
horrence, and so are fresh fgs.
By the Australian savages, frogs, snakes
large moths, and grubs, picked out from the
wood-All Of which the English settlers turn
from with disgust-are esteemed as dainties
but they are shocked at our eating oysters
Milk, as an article Of food, except for suck
ing babies,) is loathed by the South Sea
Islanders. Goats have been introduced into
several Of the Islands; but the people deride
the settlers with using their milk, and ask
them why they do not milk their soSs. On the
other hand, dogs and rats are fayOTite articles
Of food with them.
Those last, as is well known, are often eaten
by the Chinese, who also eat salt earth worms
and kind Of sea slug, which most Europeans
will turn from with disgust.
IN tae nAIESJlVS OF AnsOn 4 voyage Is full
account of the prejudices Of the South Ameri-
cans both Creoles aod Indians) against turtle
n poisonous. The prisoners captured on the
prise ships warned the sailors against eating
u, and for some time lived on bad ship beef !;
but seeing our men thrive on the turtle they
began to eat it-at first sparinzly and at length
heartily. And when set ashore and liberated
they declared they blessed the day of their
capture, which had introduced to them
plentiful supply Of wholesome and delicious
food.
Horsefesh, which most Europeans would re-
fuse to eat, except in great extremity, is pre-
ferred by the Tartars to all other and the hesh
OF wild ass colt was greatly esteemed by the
Romans.
As fer pork, 1t is on religious grounds that
jews and Mahommedans abstain from it, as the
Hindoos do from beef. But the Christians of
the East seem to have nearly an equal aversion
to It; and the like prevailed tilIlately in Scot
land.
The large she'll snail. called cscarrot, was
fsvorite dainty with the ancient Romans, and
still Is 30 in great part Of the south of Europe,
though most Englishmen would be half starved
before they would eat it.
In Vienna the large wood ants are served up
and eaten alive.
Small land crabs are eaten alive in China.
The tgauana, large species of lizard, Is
reokoned great dainty in some Of the West
India Islands
Maize (the Indian corn of America) has been
introduced into New leland by the mission.
aries, and the people cultivate and highly es-
teem IT. But their mode of preparing it for
food is to Europeans most disgusting They
steep 1t into water till it is putrid, and then
make IL into kind Of porridge which emits
most intolerable stencil.
Human flesh has been. and still Is eaten in
many parts Of the world, and that by people
considerably above the lowest rank Of savages
such as the Fiji Islanders and an Indian
people called the Batta, Iho are said to have
written language. And even in eannibal-
Ism there are great diversities-some nations
eat their enemies and some their friends
Herodotus relates that Persian king ask ed
the Indian soldiers that we're in his service
what reward would induce them to burn the
dead bodies Of their friends, instead of eating
them: They replied by entreating him not to
mention anything so shocking.
On the other hand the Now Zealanders-be-
fore their conversisn, who seemed TO have con-
sidered that the proper diet of mankind is
msn-seem TO have eaten only their enemies
Among the Australian ssvages, en- the con-
trary, it is said that if q mother finds a young
baby Troublesome to carry about, she viii eat
1t although she would not allow any one al
to do sO) under the full persuasion that she has
merely deferred its birth, and that the next
child she bears will be q reappearance of the
eaten one. When demonstrated with, she will
reply; oh, masss, he plenty come again