The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-20
CHINESE BILL OF FARE.
RICE Is THE STAFF OF LIFE IN THE
FLOWERY EMPIRE.
Butter and Cheese AbhOrrcd-The
CeIeStinIs Can stomach Many
Things We Could Not Eat, But Dis
like Some of Our Articles of Diet.

can bite. He turns up ms nose al noun
ing, although he is not SO fond of rats,
mice and puppies we are inclined 10
think In fact, authorities agree in saying
that as far as their experiences go, they
have never seen either of these animals
exposed for sale in the market except at
Canton OF course. the very poor, those
who cannot get anything else, will eat
what necessity compels, which in all prob
ability will be a large, sleek rodent Such
animals carefully fed for the purpose on
rice and such food are no doubt to be
found if you know where to look for them,
but to say that these creatures form the
common articles of food for the millions
in China is no more truthful than it would
be to say that the American dimes on
horsehesh.
Rice is the staff of life in China. That
IS. in the southern part, but in the north
ern regions millet takes its place as the
manstay of the people Both of these
grains consumed in enormous guam
tties. One, according to the part of China
in which you are, appears on the table
twice day for that is as often as chi
naman is supposed to eat, in the homes
of the rich and poor alike, though he gem
orally slows away a few things between
meals. The difference between the tables
of the rich and the poor is to be found in
the relshes side dishes which accom-
pany this staple diet.
The LabOrcr's Diet.
The laborer is content 10 find on his
table his bowl of rice and a vegetable or
two Sometimes piece of pork or a fowl
is added; FISH are greatly priced, and are
eaten in all manner of ways. None are
too small to be thrown away, none so large
but what they can be devoured Sharks
fins are considered great luxury, and are
not found EXCEPT on the tables of the rich
Neither are the fishes maws despised, but
rather considered as dainty. Small fishes
of a variety somew hat like the sardine are
eaten alive. and the evident enjoyment
which the Celestial derives from feeling
them wriggle their way down affords a
sight nearly as amusing as it is disgust
ing.
This is not the least of the articles of
food considered great delicacies by the
Chinese which are rather nauseous to us
Hundreds ok greenish-brown worms, fresh
from the rice fields, are offered for sale
by peddlers while sailed and picked eggs
having for their recommendation their old
age, are greatly priced. There are how
ever, certain things at which a Chinese
stomach rebels Our fondness for butter
and cheese, for example, is utterly incompTe-
hensible to the Celestial. Cows milk is
rather tolerated than liked. while women's
milk is sold on the streets, being consid-
cred very healthy for the aged and in
firm.
Snake Eaters in Annoy.
Snakes are eaten by the poor people in
some parts of China: for instance. in the
nelghborhood of Annoy. In some districts
of the Canton province they are also eaten,
but many other varieties of the reptile
specie, as the eel, are undoubtedly included
in the term. One authority on the subject
says that he saw man in Swatow hawk
ing along brown snakes in a basket for
food. There were three or four of them"
he says, tied with strings around the
neck. the strings being fastened 10, the
top of the basket TO prevent their escape.
They are rather an expensive article of
diet. costing about 20 cents each" which
is great deal in a country where mans
wages are from to cents.
A Famous Soup
The famous birds nest soup is made
from birds nests brought all the way from
Ceylon and Malaga where they are gath
cred at great risk from the caves on the
seashore. These nests are not at all like
the ordinary birds nests of which we are
accustomed to think, composed of Job lots
of twigs and sticks and hay and grass
but they made almost entirely of a
gelatinous substance similar TO Irish moss
The best quality, those free from twigs
etc. command $50 to $50 per pound, while
none of the poorest fall below 50. Here
is a recipe for preparing birds nestsoup,
translated from the Chinese:
Take clean white birds nests shreds
or birds nests. and soak thoroughly Pick
out all the feathers Boil in soup or wa
ter till tender and of the color of Jade
stone. Place pigeons eggs below and add
some ham shreds on top. Boil again slow
ly with little fluid II required sweet then
t1Afl IN ola
candy and then eat. This is a most clear
and pure article and thick or oily sub
stances should not be added. 1t should
be boiled for long time for If not boiled
till tender it will cause darrhoea."
ROasts Rarely Used.
The manner of preparing food in China
is totally different than with us Roasts
are seldom INDUCED in, nearly all kinds.
of food being boiled as the Chinese re-
gard roasted foods very unhealthy.
Meat, instead of being the staple food
Is the relish The meat. when eaten at
all is TO relish the rice or the vegetables
and not the vegetables to relish the meat
Although nominally taking but two meals
a day, the first at about to 10 and the
other at or 8. nearly every one knocks
off at noon for bite between meals. These
lunches are procured at any one of the
numerous restaurants and generally con-
sist of bowl of fish congee or some other
tasty soup or dish. Peanut oil and soy
are added to all of the made-up dishes
which form the food of the people Tea
Is drunken universally. ard-toiling Ia
borers are allowed i've good meals dav
Perhaps, my fair readers. you would
like to try a Genni duck. This is how il
is done:
Take fat duck. Open and clean Take
two mace of salt and rub over 1t both
outside and in. Put into an earthen dish
and take of fan spirits one cup and put
the cup with the spirits inside the duck
Do not let the spirits fall into the duck;
only the vapor of the spirits is wanted
Steam over water till quite tender. Lift
out the wine cup into the bowl Done in
this way there is no need of minor vege-
tables"
the Chinaman is a native cook, young
John Chinaman cooking as readily and
neatly as his mother.