The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-24
,FAv6RlTE FOODS OF CHINESE,
Some Common Errors as to the Varie-
ties of Meats Consumed.
(Forunn.)

The cuisine of the Chinese and the
mode and ceremonies attending theil
feasts have done much to give them a
somewhat extraordinary reputation
Globe trotters, striving to make theii
, letters brilliant and their books sensa-
tional, have told such wonderful tales
of bird-nest soup, canine hams, grim
akin Iricassees, rats, snakes, worms
and other culinary novelties, served VI
in such marvellous styles and eaten
with such apparent relish, that then
readers naturally take ii for granted
that these things form large proper
ton of the TODD of the people of CHINA
Generally speaking. the diet OF the
Chinese is SuIncient In variety, whole
some and well cooked, even if their
methods are essentially different from
our own. Doubtless many of the dishes
are found extremely unpaiatable to
Americans because of the quantity OF
nut oil used, and by reason or the pun
gent flavor of the large amount of gar
lie introduced. In the latter respect
however, the dishes of southern Eu-
rope are equally Objectionable. AS to
the assortment of food. it has been said
that there is a 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 a greater variety of meats than do
the people of other countries. although
but little land is set apart for grazing
or for the cultivation of food for live
stock Beef is not a common meat,
principally because of the Buddhlstic
prejudice against killing any animal,
and particularly such a useful one.
raised, 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 util-
lied for food. Horse flesh, venison, an
telope and bear are often seen, but in
passing through the markets pork, NUT
ton and fowls are the most conspicuous.
For fish the Chinese have an omniv-
erouS appetite. nothing from the wa
ter, either fresh or salt, being rejected.
A few kittens and puppies may be sof-
fered 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, it is
far more wholesome than is the I'M
clean hog. To assert that cats and dogs
form a staple article of food is pure
fiction.
One may live for years in a Chinese
city without seeing rats or mice Of
fered for sale as food. They are sold
for medicine. but even for this purpose
they are not so easily caught as to be
cheap. The treatment to which the
common people often subject unfortun-
ate rats which have been caught in the
granary initiates strongly against the
notion that these animals are selected
as choice tid-bits for the table. Be-
cause the rats steal their most precious
article of food. rice. the Chinese hold
that they are criminals of the deepest
eye. and that they merit the worst kind
of torture. Black dogs and cats are
favorites among the most superstitious
natives of the south. These animals
invariably command a higher price
than the others, and are eaten at mid
summer, 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
scruples. except by Buddhist priests, by
a few of the stricter laymen, and, of
course, by the Mohammedans, of whom
there are quite a number in the north
ern part of the country.