The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-05-18
Uncommon F0cd.


France during the late war; and stating
that 10000 horses were eaten at Metz
during the siege of that town, the writer
goes on to say:
1t is now about fourteen years ago
that the late Isidore Geoffrey de st. Hill
aire published q series of letters on ali
mentary substances, and the flesh OF the
horse, which was pronounced to be
highly nutritious. The Faculty of Paris
declared it to be in every respect equal
to the flesh of any other animal, with
the advantage, that the proportion of
fatty substance was less than that of the
bullock, and strong gravy soup might
be made, much easier of digestion, and
in every way superior to that OF beef.
In 1858, what might be termed a "horse"
banquet was given in Paris at the Grand
Hotel du Louvre, which was presided
over by the famous gdstronOme, M. Che
vet, who had given the advantage of his
culinary genius to the preparations.
About sixteen persons partook of va
riety of dishes, and they were pro-
nounced excellent In 1866 and the fol-
lowing year, equine banquets on a
larger scale took place in Paris, and en-
thusiastic speeches were made by several
well known naturalists, with view to
popularize the subject; and the sale of
horse meat in the butchers shops was
permitted by an imperial ordinance.
In the retreat from Moscow, horse
flesh furnished the French with the
daily rations from the commissariat. In
this matter the French have simply fol-
lowed precedent of Germany, Russia,
Belgium, Denmark, and other countries.
In Austria, during 1868, nineteen hun
dred and fifty-four horses were slaugh-
tered for food, and horse flesh has been
eaten by different nations from remote
periods.
A superior distinction in taste seems
to be accorded to the flesh of the donkey,
great numbers of which animals have
been and are still slaughtered for food
by the French. M. Darcel declares, it is
to the horse that which veal is to the OK.
Monkeys flesh is by no means to be
despised, though this may seem to some
persons near approach to canuibalism.
Mr.. Bates, in his Naturally on the
Amazon" describes the meat of the
spider monkey as the best favored he
had richer and sweeter taste.
The prediction for dog eating is by
no means confined to the Chinese, the
Esquimaux, amongst others, vastly en-
joying this food when the animals are
young. A Danish captain who had ac-
quired the dog taste, provided some of
this food for select party of guests,
most of whom highly praised his mutton.
Captain Sir. j. McClintock, who relates
this story, adds that baked puppy is a
real deiicacy all over Polynesia. AT
the Sandwich Islands, was once invited
to feast, and had to feign disappoint-
ment as we'll as l could when told that
puppies were so extremely scarce, that
one could not be procured in time, and
sucking pig had to be substituted.
The same writer bears unqualified testi-
mony to the excellency of seal steaks
when cut thin, and deprived of all fat.
The Malabar coolies are very fond of
the "coffee rats" which they fry in oil
or convert into curry. The pig rat is in
similar favor. 1t attains weight of two
or three pounds, and grows to nearly the
length of two feet. Rat pies are eaten
in various parts of England /; rat suppers
used to be given periodically at an inn
near Nottingham. The porcupine is
esteemed delicacy in Ceylon, and in
flavor much resembles young pig. In
Siam the flesh of the crocodile is exposed
for sale in the markets. Alligators are
sometimes eaten by the natives of South
America, Africa, and South Australia.
The taste of musk is, however, so strong
that few strangers can eat them without
being sick afterwards.
Elephants hearts, we are told by
Baldwin, in his " African Hunting" are
very tender and good. The feet, baked
in large hole between bricks, are very
glutinous and not unlike Drawn.
In Peter Martyrs account of the voy-
ages of Columbus, he mentions the dis
gust experienced by the Spaniards when
at st. Domingo, on being invited by the
Indians to taste their favorite delicacy
the guiana, considering it species Of
serpent. This dislike was, however, soon
overcome. "These serpents are lyke
unto crocodiles save in bygness. They
call them guanas. Unto that day none
of owre men burst adventure to taste oi
them by reason OF they're horrible de-
formitie and lothsomness. Yet the AIDE.
lantado being entysed by the pleasant
ness of the kings sister Anaoaona, de-
termined to taste the serpents. But
when he felt the flesh thereof to be SC
delycate to his tongue, he fel to amain
without all feare. The which thing his
companions seeing, were not behynd hym
in greedynesse, ipsomuche that they had
9TH all ho &c
nesse of these serpents, which they at,
tirme to be of more pleasant taste than
eyther our pheasants or PARTICLES"
Partially for raw food seems to pre-.
vail in many countries. Raw fish, thlnly
sliced, formed one of the delicacie.
placed before Lord Elgin at Chinese
banquet. Baldwin tells us that the
Kaffirs eat alternately lump of roasted
bulls flesh, and an equal quantity of the
inside raw. A species of salmon, un.
known in Europe, called in Siberia the
nelma, is esteemed by the Russians more
delicious in its raw state than when
cooked, and is eaten to provoke an appe-
tite. Ernan, in his travels in Siberia,
says that during intense frost, raw flesh
loses its repulsive qualities.
Wrangell adds his testimony to the
superior flavor of raw frozen fish, sea.
soned with salt and pepper. Captain
Hall says: my opinion is that the
Esquimaux practice of eating their food
raw is good one; at least for the better
preservation of their health" Eating
meats raw or cooked is quite a matter O
education.
The natives of the Sandwich Islands
- 4,,n%loa Jolnh,,, A,;o. EoLo, oto