Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-19
HUNTING THE 'POSSUM.
The Sport ms Enjoyed in Middle GeOr-
gin In Slavery Days.

The Sport Enjoyed in Middle Geor-
gin in Slavery Days.
Richard Malcolm Johnston Is the author
of government pamphlet OIL early Edu
cational Life in Middle Georgia. 1t is an
exception to the general rule of government
pamphlet, and is genuine literature and full
of interest. From 1t the following account
of possum hunting is extracted:
A sport which boys greatly delighted in
was accompanying the negroes while hunt
ing the opossum. Its relish was the dearer
because of the infrequency with which par
ents. especially mothers, consented to 1t. OF
all delights to the palate of southern ne
gro. and, indeed, of many a southern white
man. the flesh of the oposSum, when baked
to the proper degree of brown, is the dear
est. Astounding in fat perhaps beyond any
other animal, its flesh resembles much that
OF a sucking pig. only being more soft. 1t
Is so easily fattened that on being taken
out Of the woods 1t generally is in condition
fit for the oven. Southerners regard 1t of
all meats the least indigestible and but for
its superintendent fat it would appear more
frequently on tables Of the whites. In some
houses this superfluity was disposed Of by
placing layer or more Of oak or hickory
sticks to the height of three or four inches
at the bottom Of the oven, and upon the
lattice work thus made laying the opossdm.
BY such mode much of the oil vas de-
posted on the bottom. The negro, when
cooking for himself. never resorts to these
measures. but takes his favorite as he is.
indeed, preferring him with all his imper-
fectiOnS on his head
AT every home, whatever might be lack
ing for making up the full Of home COM
forts, 1t was never an opossum dog; seldom
was 1t without two or three. These were
lot of the pack of hounds-fro;n four to
eight or more-kept by the owner for the
fox and the rabbit. They belonged to the
negroes. and were usually well trained. The
hunter, providing himself with an ak, a
torch of lightwood sticks of suitable length
(about two feeO, accompanied by at least
one other. bearing another AK and en- arm
full of other sticks, sailed forth to the
woods. Both ne and his dog well knew the
most freQuented haunts Of the quarry along
skirts of wood and meadow wherein grew
the persimmon. the muscadine and the wild
grape. A rabbit starting up attracted little
notice from the dog. that understood we'll
enough that the sort OF game was for the
day, never for the night. After the trail
was found the pursuit was usually brief as
the beast Is not swift on foot AMI travels
over an tnconsiderable space. The dog banks
little or none while pursuing, and SO the
opossum. when about to be overtak IN by
surprise. makes with what spe ed is possible
to tree. In his emergency he sometimes
mas to take small sapling, up which he
can mount no higher than six or eight feet
without bending the top. If he Is not too
hotly pressed he will take to q large one,
although he II not as particular in that
matter as the raccoon. who being more
swift OF foot and more capable IN general of
taking care OF himself. invariably seeks the
largest he can find In his fight. There was
one exception, however, and that was in
the case of an opossum Of smaller size.
more slender of make. much more feet Of
foot and with preponderance Of black hairs
In his skin. Whenever 1t was q very large
tree to which the hunter was called by his
dog he was apt to suspect that 1t was
either raccoon or q Blue Dick as this
variety was called. Whether 1t was of q
distinct species was not known. Individu-
ais were not often met with. and q black
hunter was always disappointed when one