The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-10

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81 BUSEB1Ge.
One Of the most curious, but not the
moot as ccablc parts Of . travellers ex-
perioncc In going round the world, Is
to be found In the great diversity of
manners and customs in regard to
eating and drinking. Ono can ac-
commodate himself readily to many
new circumstances in which he finds
himself on stepping into now coun-
try, but he cannot always make his
taste agree with tho tastes of the peo-
pie among whom he Is thrown. Hap
PLY in this ago Of the world he finds
some Of the staples of life much the
same the world over, 40 that be Is not
obliged practically to put the most
fastidious of tho senses to the strong
test which 1t had to endure, when
travelling, rs one of the fine arts, was
moro in lis infancy but he can still
indulge in observation and spocula-
ton to his hearts content.
The Chinese from time immcmoral,
ut least from the days when we stud
led the pictorial geography, have been
celebrated for the range Of their an
NAL diet, and for some of the luxuries
of life which are peculiar to their &C.
lestial kingdom. 70 begin with the
first course, soup: All the world
knows that in China they have deli
cacy which has not reached other
parts, in birds pest soup. One Of my
first inquiries, as got into the streets
of Canton, was after this commodity,
or the nests from which it is made,
and l was taken into fine shop, fitted
up i'm q costly manner, where it was
the only article sold... Birds nests are
q great luxury in China, being within
the reach of the wealthy alone. They
are sold at prices graduated according
to the quality of the article, none of
any value bringing less price than
their weight in silver, and some bring
ing almost their weight in gold.
Nests are sold IS high as $50 or $40 a
pound.
The nests arc simply mass of pure
golatine, secreted in some way by a
species of swallow, and deposited
against wall, just as the swallows in
our country stick nest of mud
against q beam. Some naturaliss
maintain that the gelatine is formed
from a sort of sea-foam which the
swallow gathers, and is exudcd from
the mouth Of the bird. 1t closely re-
eembles the gelatine which Is known
by the name Of isinglass, apd the pu-
rcr sort is almost transparent. There
is nothing rcpulsive i'm its appearance
and its origin is just as honorable and
cOmmendatory as that from which
our jcllics arc made at home; / an
disposed to think, more so. Tho
nests come chiefly from the island o
Java, where they are Obtained with
great labor and often OF much peril
from deep caves along the coast
Sol.lc of these caves On the southern
coast of tho island are approached onl,
by o perpendicular descent of grca
depth, by means Of ladders, the rag
= Ing OF the sea below preventing al
approach from the water. When col
lected they are assorted into diffcren
grades, those which have not beer
occupied by the birds bringing lii,
highest price; and the other grades a
prices according to cleanliness ant
quality. I have put of the lowe
grade, but fine specimen of the nest
into my trunk, q mean my baggage,
and presume it wal be one OF the car
liest importations into America.
The Chinese do not have as great
variety of animal food as the Western
nations, but they make use of SOM
animals which most nations reject
l find q great diversity in the testimo
ny of travellers and residents in re
gard to the use Of "rats, cats and pup
pies, some of the latter, q mean til,
rcsidents,) stoutly affirming that the,
are no. used at all, or If SO, only il
cases Of extremity whore nothing els
i'm the shape of food can be obtained
But have seen all these animals ex
posed for sale i'm the markets of Can
ton, in the very heart of the city.
There are dog markets, where 10
thing else is sold, and where l hav
seen dogs day after day, dressed an,
ready cooked. There arc several sue
markets in the city. Rats also aliv
and dead, fresh and dried are regular
ly and constantly sold, and / hav
seen them i'm all these stages of prepa
lion, as / have been passing. On
plump fellow saw suspended by hi
tail from a market hook, waiting 70
purchaser, but all the while strue
CLING to escape, while the dried speci
mems hanging around him awaite
their destiny with more composurt
There is no more reason for denyin
that such animals are regularly sol
in the markets of Canton for foot
than that beef and mutton arc sold i
the markets of New York And ye
it is nevertheless true, that the mas
of the people 10 not use them fo
food. Their use is confined to thos
who are unable to obtain flesh inca
that is more expensive.
Another staple in the line of ami
NAL food is pork. Chinese pigs ar
celebrated the world over for thei
excellent quality, and, as well a
OutuS Dsbl ClliOhCic, Iittc lODg UcC
imported into America. They ar
raised with great care; as CAREFUL,
if not more so, than the children
They are oi.en kept In little cages i
In the shops and houses, where the
receive every attention and are fc
with tho choicest food, instead of liy
ing on what is thrown away. And
very quiet and well behaved race the
arc. They are carried about th
streets i'm baskets just large cnoug
for them to be slipped into with thei
legs folded, and in this state arc lai
away at the markets aud other places
hut do not remember ever 10 hav
heard in China single note of ths
dulcet music which is their peculia
forte in other parts of the world. PEI
haps it is out of gratitude that the
remain SO quiet, for have been toll
that until the government interfere
and required that thoy should be cal
ried i'm baskets, they were slung b
the heels across pole, mode of cor
veyance which would very natural
develop their musical powers.
The fruits of China arc general
poor and destitute of flavor. We ha
some grapes from the North, but th
only fruit in the South that was j
season and really palatablc, was th