The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-08
FAvoRITE FOODS OF THE CHINESE.
Diet of the Rich and the Poor Con-
trasted.
From the Forum.

From the Forum
The cuisine Of the Chinese and the mode
and ceremonies attending their feasts have
done much to give them a somewhat ex-
traordinary reputation. Globe-trotters
striving to make their letters brilliant and
their books sensational, have told such
wonderful tales of bird-nest soup, canine
hams. grimallxin fricassees, rats, snakes
worms and other culinary novelties serv-
ed up in such marvellous styles and eaten
with such apparent relish that their read
ers naturally take it for granted that
these things form a large proportion of
the food of the people of China.
Generally speaking. the diet of the Chi
nese is sufficient in variety, wholesome
and wei. cooked, even if their methods are
essentially different from our own. Doubt
less, many OF the dishes are found en-
tremely unpalatable to Americans, because
of the quantity of nut oil used, aud by
reason of the pungent flavor of the large
amount of garlic introduced In the lat
ter respect however, the dishes of South
ern Europe are equally Objectionable. As
to the assortment of food, it has been
said that there is wider difference. per-
haps. between the rich and the poor of
China than of any other country.
1t is probably true that the Chinese use
@ greater variety of meats than do the
people OF other countries although but lit
lie land is set apart for grazing or for
the cultivation of food for. live stock. Beef
Is not a common meat, principally be-
cause of the Buddhistic prejudice against
killing any animal. and particularly such
a useful one. Since hogs can be so eco
nomiealy reared, pork is undoubtedly,
after rice the leading article of food This
is eaten in every form, and one may say
that every part of the animal is utilized
for food Horsefesh, venson. antelope
and bear are often seen, bur, in passing
through the markets pork. mutton anc
fowls ere the most conspicuous.
For fish the Chinese have an omnVorous
appetite: nothing from the water either
fresh or salt, being rejected a few kit
tens and puppies may be offered for sale
in cages Those which are intended for
the table are fed upon grain and clean
food: so that, if the nature of this food
be considered, Il is far more wholesome
than is the .unclean hog. To assert that
cats and dogs form a staple article Of food
is pure fiction.
One may live for years in Chinese
city without seeing rats OF mice offered
for sale as food They are sold for medl-
cine; but even for this purpose they arc
not so easily caught as to be cheap. The
treatment to which the common people
often subject unfortunate rats which have
been caught in the granary initiates
strongly against the notion that these an
imals are selected as choice tid-bits for
the table. Because the rats steal their
most previous article of food, rice. the
Chinese hold that they are criminals of
the deepest dye, and that they merit the
worst kind OF torture. Black dogs and
cats are favorites among the most super
sutious natives of the south. These ami
mails invariably command higher price
h.r al mi m.
mer, in the belief that the meat insures
both health and strength for the ensuing
year. The blood of all animals is taken,
so far as concerns religious scruoles, ex-
copt by Buddhist priests by a few OF the
stticter laymen, and. Of course by the
Mohammcdaus, of whom there are quite
a number in the northern part of the coun-
try