The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-02-11
CANADIAN CAT.FEAST.

V.eer Castsas Among q strange Peopie-
A EsssteE With the Half-Breed Tras-
Missouri. AAa'Ah 'esa<ers - 'Ae
San Francisco Examiner writer
gives 2 graphic account of g queer
new Years custom which prevails
among the Canadian Frenchmen en-
Pio5ed as hunters, guides and fat-boat-
men BY the American and Hudson's
bay Fur companies. The custom IN
question Is known as 50 Cat-feast," and
me writer, at the time be Witnessed it,
was living In cabin on the banks OF
the hawiln's river, Wyoming. Only
iour lat felines had been obtained for
.nis great feast, says the writer. Where
tney had come from / never ascer-
s ssined: Whether they had been bred,
Ied and fatted for this especial festive
occasion, OF had been brought from
some far-of settlement in sack or box,
u matters little. But there they were,
suspended IN the bright morning sun
Two black, one gray aad one gray and
white. The cat-killing operation is per-
formed by the Sioux sauaws, and as
the body of the animal must not be
bruised, and all the blood must be ex.
slacteo without injuring the skin, it re-
CURES some skill to kill cat under
such circumstances. The squaw, armed
with 3 short heavy club, SEXES the ami
MAJ Dy Its caudal extremity, and before
Inc brute has time to resent this insult
ing attack it receives a stunning blow
upon the back of the head. and then.
as quick as fash, a knife is drawn
across its throat, and it is hung to bleed.
This cat-killing operation had been per-
formed before / arrived, and the dress
ing was then In progress. Monsieur
Onahies Gereaux, a notable and
wealthy Indian trader, was stand
ing at the end of a rough, long table
critically supervising the very delicate
operation of preparing the felines for
the fire.
Two half-breed guides were perform
ing this duty. The cats, nicely disem.
bowled, were brought in by the attend
ant squaws and laid upon the table.
Ope Of the men then proceeded to stuff
the cats with mixture of soaked
crackers, cornmeal, cove oysters, black
and red pepper, mace, cinnamon, dried
herbs, onions and cognac brandy. In
ferspersed with this mixture were small
thin strips of fat bacon and with parti.
cies OF ham chopped fine. Having filled
the carcass with this stufing, the skins
OF the cats were drawn together and
securely sewed up with sinews. A large
tub OF red clay was then brought in,
and each OF the animals received thick
coat CT this adhesive substance, the
cay being rubbed thoroughly into the
fur, so as to render this clayey coat per
fectly adhesive. At least two inches of
this clay was laid over each, and as they
lay there upon the floor they resembled
four large clay demiiohns or jugs fresh
from the hands of the potter. A large
number of fine, tat buffalo fish
and suckers we're served in the
same way, and then came another
equally interesting operation. At
the end of the largest of the four
rooms constituting the ranch an
immense fire of dry cedar had been
burning all the morning, filing the
place with rich aroma of cedar smoke.
This fire had now burned down to a pile
of red, glowing Goals. A long, deep
trench was quickly made in this fiery
bank, and in this the cats and fish in
their incasements OF clay were quickly
laid, and covered with hot Goals. While
this culinary operation was being per.
formed inside "Le Commandante," as
Colonel Collins was designated BY the
voyagers, had arrived: but IS he was
accompanied by several members of his
staff, he was not invited to enter the
house. The fun of the day now com
In earnest. This consisted of
horse-racing, foot-racing, wrestling be-
tween squaws, target-shooting and lasso
throwing. Brandy and whisky flowed
freely, but it was noticeable that no
quarreling or fighting occurred among
them.
About o'clock in the afternoon din
ner was announced, and all who could
get into the main room where the cook
ing had been done repaired thither to
see the meats taken from their fiery
beds. On raking open the bank of red
hot cedarwood Goals the clay coverings
OF the animals and fishes were found to
be burned to brick-red color, and re-
sembled large, shapeless Jumps of brick
These were lifted upon shovels and
laid upon block especially prepared
for the purpose. Here a sharp blow
with Ratchet cracked the hot, brick
like coverings, and the fragments fell
away, taking with them the hide and
skin of the animals and the scales of
The fish. Then there arose such
savory aroma from the steaning we'll
stuffed animals as would have tempted
The appetite OF the most fastidious dys-
peptic. The alright coverings had
all the savory steam from the
spicy dressing, and nothing had escaped
during the slow roasting process be-
meath the cedar Goals. In addition to
The fish and the cats were savory stews
Or pot-pourri of rabbits and prairie dogs,
rich coup of beaver tail, huge slices of
bear meat, juicy venison steaks broiled
upon the Goals, and large rounds of
buffalo haunch boiled almost to frag-
ments. No bread was used and vege-
tables were not thought of. The near
sst thing to bread was a stack of soda
crackers in the center of the table, and
eWn &h~oo l.