, 1885-11-14
CHINESE psovIslon STORES


~ AAhA S1'N -
Frsnuisoo's Imported Edibias-
iSan Francisco Chronicle
The multiform varieties OF nitrogen
Gus and -carbonaceous matter absorbed
into the Celestial stomach may be best
viewed by strolling through Gum Cook
lane, the central depot for Chinese pro
eision stores. A reporter, accompanied
by a gentleman thoroughly conversant
with the language and habits Of the
Chinese, and who kindly gave his sery-
ices rs interpreter, visited two or three
Of these stores, a description Of which
will suffice to give a good idea Of the
others.
The general assertion that this Chi
nese appetite is omnivorous and sticks
at nothing was proved by the inspection
of q vast variety OF dried fish, all were
Imported from China Dried white
bait, dried shrimps, dried squid-f fish,
dried cuttle-lish, OF different sizes, lay
in heaps around the roof on bamboo
hoops. Dried particles of salt chi-hsh
dried skeletons of the to-pak, n fish con
tanning very fine bones, dried soles,
dried Chinese oysters, strung on hoops,
very expensive, were also examined.
All the various condiments, IL may be
remarked, seemed to DO in mummy like
condition.
Attention was next bestowed upon
the desiccated head Of a dolphin like
fish, called pong gee, an admirable
amateur leper detective, it being be-
lieved by the Chinese hat one meal of
this fish would be sufficient 10 kill any
one tainted with leprous contagion.
What appeared to be dried clans, much
larger than the California CLAIMS, but
which the reporter was informed were
mutton fish, were next inspected.
These are used principally for soups.
A very unsayory aroma proceedinL
from q jar in one corner was traced t.
"A heap of tzo-paak, or smells preserved
IN oil.
Tho Chinese ~storekeeper next directed
the reporters attention to several va
rieties of sweet dried mushrooms, o.
fungi, in Chinese heang 81, used for
fayoring soups, and to desiccated flow
ers and Chinese vermicelli, used for the
same purpose. Tho pickle and relish
department included black picked wal
nuts dried, dried chestnuts, salt cab
bage, sweet red plums dried, and dried
heansticks for soup. some circular
hoops Of an inferior kind of oysters
were pointed out which cost % cents a
hoop.
Among the viands could be seen
hanging from tho roof dried rashers OF
pork on bamboo sprouts, dried ducks
gizzards on a BRACELET, dried ducks legs
fastened to a string, dried ducks car
casses opened out and sluashed flat,
small Chinese hams. combinations of
ducks leg, molecule of liver, and parti-
Gle of gilzard bound round with n sinew
from the same bird, and a variety OF
weird, nonedescript articles, impossible
to describe. In a bin in the corner
were piled a vast multitude of ducks
eggs imported from China, and pre-
served in a blackish-hued mixture Of
ashes, red mud, and lime. A species Of
Chinese maize. or Chinese corn flour,
made from sweet potatoes ground, was
next described with much gesticulation
by a little Chinese storekeeper, who also
produced a mass of what appeared to
be horsehair, but which was stated to
be dried edible seaweed.
Among the vegetables were noticed
dried turnips, cut in thin strips; green
peas, which are eaten by the Chinese
pods and all; small green pumpkins
varieties Of n very sweet vine cucum
Der. known as su kwa: Chinese arti-
chokes, preserved fruits in Jars, gourds
which are intended to be fried in oil,
etc. Some bottles incased in wicker
work, and some jars of different sizes
and shapes, but mostly bullying and
plethoric, were noticed, ranged on
shelves near the roof. These, tho re
Porter was informed, contained three
varieties OF wine.