Middletown transcript., 1868-02-01
= curio.ltles or Animal Food.

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In certain parts of Africa, Trinidad,
Ceyion. Berneo, and South America,
boiled and roasted monkey is considered d
delieacy---thc rcd spider fox and howling
monkeys each possessing a peculiar flavor
Indeed, a gorilla steak, to Jhe South Afri-
can, is a niorsel not TO be excelled but, as
this custom is too nearly allied to cannilal-
ism, Anglo-Saxon travellers have seldom
Leen tempted " participate. In the islands
Of Mauritius and Malabsr several varieties
of the bat, some of them with wings four
feet in extent, are eaten by the natives
with avidity but the story that the Dutch,
when in, possession of the former island,
were fond Of the monkey, is said to be in
correct. The Arabs do not object to the
flesh of the ihyeua, although so, rank that
the dogs will not touch it aud it is well
known that the poleoat is eaten by the ab-
origines of North America, while the opos-
sum is highly appreciated by the better
classes of the Southern States. In Italy
the fox is considered fit for the table of a
cardinal and while the rayenous Esqui-
maux dogs viii not touch this animal after
killing, the Indians themselves consider il
excellent food. Tho natives of the Malaya
Peninsular eat the flesh of the tiger, which
is thoughtto inspire courage, aud the Hot
tentots and other African races are wont to
feed upon the lion; while the American
Indians have no seraples in regard to the
wolf, the panther. the cougar, or the lynx,
many varieties ofpeople esteem the flesh Of
the dog the ancient Greeks and Romans
thought ID light and wholesome, and the
common people of1modern Rome depend
upon it to a considerable extent; in China
they arc fattened for tho table; I'M Zanzi-
bar a stew Of fpuppies is q luxury even with
the kings. and in the Sandwich Islands q
pet puppy is often placed before q hungry
guest, and roasted dog is common among
the natives of Africa and the Indians d
North America. i..sf -..., I..ls.....- ,.f, i !
H. In Australia, where alone the Kangaroo
is found, it is considered delicacy, and Its
liver, when dried and then pounded, is used
as substitute for bread and it is o remark
able fact that the aborigines of that eoun-
try always eat their food roasted, being
without the utensils for heating water on
cooking liquid food. These people also
enjoy frogs,I snakes, moths, and grubs, but
abhor oyters. ba Among the Esquimaux
roasted mice are considered delectable,
while the walrus, the porpoise. and the
whale are among the necessarics of life.
In some Of the West India Islands and in
Brazil fried rats are considered superior to
frogs. and among the Chinese rat soup ID
only equallcd rhy a soup of caterpillart
boiled in q thin gravy with onions. In
various parts Of South America the ant.
cater and armadillo, the latter roasted in
its shell, are constantly eaten, and said to
resemble roast pig. In Africa and India
the flesh Of the elephant Is generally eaten,
and the paws considered an Apican luxury
In Abyssinia The descendants of Rasselast
doat on a hippopotamus or rhinoceros steak
The nomad tribes of Northern Asia and
the aborigines of America are famous fol
their horso-fesh feasts; horse-stesks have
long been authorized and publicly sold in