The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-10-06
Edible Birds Nests.

Edible birds nests are shipped in
large quantities from Java to China
and the Eastern islands for food. The
birds that build them are species
OF swallow, and they are found in
cliffs, caves and caverns. They are
composed of sort of mucilaginous
substance which the Chinese relish
with gusto. 1t is transparent mass
like isinglass, mother-of-pearl or
white horn. The stuff is made by
the bird, who, when you open the
bill, has large salivary glands under
his tongue which supply the materi-
al. The men who hunt these nests
are daring and peculiar set. They
have goddess called Loro who is
worshipped by them, and a temple
at a place called Rongkop, on the
summit Of tall rock. No mortal
lives here, and none pass by without
raising their hands in grave saluta.
ton. 1t is death for anyone to enter
except the chief of the society of
nest-pickers, who fills the office OF
priest. The goddess is supposed to
arise from the sea and 60 into the
temple when the season commences,
and then feast is given in her hon
or, music and dancing girls being in
attendance. The nest-gathercrs have
nothing but cloth about their loins,
knife and net bag at their side
When one goes to work he takes mis-
place. on a stage of two cross bars
listened to the end of rope, and is
let down against the face of the rock.
lie grasps the rope with his left hand,
and in his right has rod with
which he holds himself off from the
rocks. Sometimes he goes down
several hundred feet amid the roar OF
the ocean and hundreds of birds fly
ing all around MIN. When he comes
oppositea safangan hole CHATS the
name of the bird) he makes signal,
and the lowering stops. lie now
swings back and forth until he gels
power enough to enter the hole and
lind footing on the rock she ha
noted. lfhe fails, he is dashed to
pieces on the rocks below. The man
generally has thin cord fastened
around his body AMI TO the rope, so
that he can pull the stage in to HIM
self again. Should this break how
ever he has to make bold leap and
catch the stage. When he has got
into the cavern he cuts off the nests
with his knife and places them in his
bag, and when it is full he returns
and his place is supplied by another.
This business is so exclusive that 10
foreigner has ever been allowed to
participate in it. Some Clutch mer-
chants once entered a cave, but they
never came out alive, and the Malays
have story that the goddess LOro
"took them to her BOSOM These
swallows breed four times year,
each time making new nest. The
nests are plucked three times, and so
only one brood is left to the birds. In
the cavern of Karang-Collong, |
have heard it stated, there were three
hundred and thirty thousand swai-
lows, and from them about five hun
drcd thousand nests are
annually taken. The harvest is done
in July and August, Move mber and
December, and the worst in April
and May. The nests are cleaned and
assorted and packed in bamboo cases
of about seventy in case. They all
go to China, perhaps few to Ameri-
ca and Europe as blriOsities: one
hundred and seventy thousand
pounds 60 to Canton alone, and
about fifty bird nests make pound.
The first quality of nests cost in the
cities of China twenty to thirty dol
lars a pound
''How are they eaten?,'
"They dissolve the nests in water
or broth, and spice them highly, us
ing them as an entrec. You'll find it
dish among all the wealthy Chinese,
and at all the Royal and State enter
tainments. Why, when General
Grant made his tour of the world he
was entertained ON them at Canton.
The Chinese think they are great
stimulant, but some German chemists
say that they have no stimulating
qualities, and are nothing more than
tho saliva of the animals, neither
nourishing nor stimulating, but aw-
full sticky Interview in Gin
cinuati Inquirer.
My son, you may invent a new cleo
trio light you may improve the tele-
phone until il can be talked to. Won