Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-06-19


Of grounds that belong to the Seamen'
Retreat, at Stapleton. Staten Island, Il
locality known as Rocky Hollow, >
where there are hundreds of cabins occu
pied by colored people,
In retired part of Melwen street re-
Gently venerable, white-haired colored
man was seated in camp-stool, while
oa one side of him was kettle hanging
from three upright iron stakes over q
Glazing wood fire, and on the other was
y perforated wooden box. The old gen.
Ieman was humming a plantation tune,
Iand his fiat nose, thick lips and ebony
akin showed him to be full-blooded
AFRICAN. He was skinning what at first
\ Night seemed to be cells, but close look
bowed that their skins were light, with
stripes, or else black and differently
colored, Some had cross stripes, some
had none. They were all alive and
wrlggling as they were deity caught in
kic left hand, their head went back, the
throat exposed, . knife slipped across
the neck below the head, and the skin
peeled off in the same manner that an
egl Is skinned. They were snakes.
Every time his hand came from the
box the fingers held snake. The old
man chuckled as if he undoubtedly en-
loved his work. AS soon as he had
skinned the snakes they were dropped
into large iron pot, where they would
sqnirm for some moments and gradually
knot themselves up until motion
ceased.
The reporter stepped closer. There
we're probably forty snakes in the box.
The mass was all Melted and twisted to-
gether, crawling over one another and
darting their tongues out savagely.
what will you do with them?" was
sked. after all had been skinned and
hsskins carefully laid out across q fence
,diy.
MAKE skimeree,' said the old gem
man, who was cutting the carcasses
pieces about two inches long.
Make whatp"
neutrality-suspicious." replied the
Bed Ethlope, as he removed the steam
lg kettle from over the fire and
jumped some potatoes, cut tomatoes,
shions, celery, small pieces of bacon
and tat pork, turnips and other vegeta-
blas into the pot where the minced rep
ules ,Were, and then stirred the whole |
up together with his knife and poured |
IN boiling water. Then he placed fresh |
wood on the fire, and the mass was soon |
steaming.
.'Now. den, we will add some dump
links TO dem, an de dish am COM
pleted. he said. It is a lobely dish. il
yer only knowed how to make it. III
iealned to eat dat dish down in st.
James Parish, in Louisiana, on Master
stockwelrs place, thirty years ago.
Down there, though, we got somepin'
'vortn cookin' not desc little things.
DOVE y, dere de snakes grows bigger
thick eS yer arm.
'1ye SKINS" he continued, I'VE sells
= voudoo women in Sullivan and
ihCnpson streets, or aroun' here. Dew
~ - twenty-two cents apiece for 'em,
VA sell EN- again fur charms. De col
red people wear dem aroun' de arm or
plkie. know an awful pretty weller
raiwho had splendid place on Fifth
venue, and her mistress had KEEP her
yer since she was a little girl. One
ay she see the girls arm, an there,
car the vaccination mark, was the skin
( "a little snake"
Sie bared his own arm, around which
US the skin of a beautifully-colored
sake, the bright hues of which had ,
q brought out by oiling and curing.
faint everybody dat knows how to
dem right, but / do. Well, dat
sot packed ter onst. 1t nearly gave
Mistress fit. Some skins is with
tysdollars an more if it is a large
70. Dey comes from Virginny, Ken 4
and Louisiana. De head mus alters
KEEP with the skin. Some high
ned coons who is in favor in the
6 ftaro-banks have lubly skins about
M"
"What does 'skimeree' taste likep"
20, nice: 1t has a,gamy flavor, like
ION. Dis'n soon be dun-taste it YER
L. It's nice, tell yer, bossee," and
% old man seemed trifle indignant as