The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-04
DISMAL SWAMP DIET.

The fact that snakes are eaten by
Virginia negroes is one of the recen
discoveries made by the Department O.
Agriculture. 1t has always been taker
for granted that genuine swamp OAR
ky could masticate anything, from
horseshoe nails and billy-goat tin cans
up to elephant hide, but not even sci
enlist supposed that he could digest
half-oooked snakes in the wholesale
fashion that prevails around the region
of the Dismal Swamp. When DR.. Fl. B
| Frssel principal of the Hampton Nor
NAL and Agricultural Institute. and a
special expert in the Agricultural De-
partment, was sent down to investigate
the diet of the Dismal Swamp negroes,
he made a few rather startling discov-
cries.
The dusky inhabitants of that region
are almost savages. This swamp dar-
ky throws up a rude shack that is lit
tie better than hut of boughs, and
here, in the heart of the forest, he rears
his family. Snakes, swapping turtles
and cells form the chief articles of his
| Gltl, anu tIlSSG are rarely wen COohSu'
He wouldn't know a paper dollar from
a book, and much less silver or copper.
When he works a plantation he IS not
paid in dollars and cents, but in "ra-
tions" of cornmeal or other food
Dr. Frssell conducted his investiga-
lions in the face of difficult circum-
stances as may be observed in the fol-
| lowing extract from his report:
THE families studied were scattered
over large area of country, necessita-
ting a daily round of some fifteen miles
The outward trip was takc9 along the
highway and the return trip made by
plantation roads. More or less opposi-
ton was manifested by some of the
population toward the carrying on Of
these Investigations among the negroes.
1t is often difficult matter, and one
requiring considerable tact, to explain
the purpose Of such investigation.
There is a suspicion of interference, or
some other prejudice is encountered.
The opposition referred to seems to be
of this nature, and was overcome suffi-
GENTLY to enable the investigators to
continue the work.
The dietary studies We're carried on
in the region bordering in the Great
Dismal Swamp. The land In the vicin-
ity was low and swampy, and malaria
was exceedingly prevalent. The houses
were small and constructed in very
rude and primitive manner. They
We're, as rule, board cabins. Few
families had lamps or candles. The
cabins were not lighted in the evening
except by the open fireplaces.
'The negroes in this vicinity obtain
their living almost entirely from the
soil AS rule each family rents
small tract of land, quite generally of
the size called a one-mule farm, paying
a part, sometimes as much as one-half
of the produce as rent On the remain
der of the produce, together with the in
come from what odd Jobs can be OBJ
tanned the family must be supported.
The farms are frequently so-called
'dead-tree farms'-that Is, they are
cleared by killing the trees by girdling
and removing the underbrush. The
trees are not felled. and the soil is titled
among the dead trees. All adults, both
men and women, work on the farm
Payment for labor is usually made in
'rations or food materials. The staple
crops are sweet potatoes cotton and
peanuts. The crops obtained are usu-
ally small. Formerly tobacco was
raised in this section, but the land has
become so improved that tobacco is not
successfully grown.
Nearly all the families had very lit
tie means Notwithstanding the fact
that food was in many cases scarce,
Of 70 mil nf
cats and dogs.
As among the negroes of Alabama.
hogs and hominy form the larger part
of the diet. Side bacon is the principal
meat, and with some fish and a little
milk formed the major portion of the
animal food. Large quantities of fish
are obtained from the waters of the
neighboring Chesapeake Bay, and form
an important source of food. Frogs
turtles and even snakes We're not infre-
quently eaten by some of the families
at certain seasons Of the year. Unbolt-
ed corn meal, costing about a cent
pound, and containing a very large
amount of bran, furnishes a large pro-
portion of the nutriment of the diet.
The coarse bran Is removed by sitting,
but the meal actually used contains a
very large proportion. The bread is
made simply Of meal wet up, without |
salt or leavening material, and baked, |
as rule, In the ashes, being common |
y called ash cake
Dr. F'rissell then proceeds to give tab |
ulated returns of the food used at GER
tain negro homes during the period of |
his investigation. Each home was
studied for period ranging from eight
lays to thirty days. 1t was in the first
home studied that a most remarkable
1iet was discovered consisting of frogs
and snakes. This was the first time
snakes were found as food but in other
homes in the same region similar diets
were found. The family used little or
10 beef, mutton, or other lean meats,
is they believed that these made them
II. They liked fat meats, like pork,
)ut did not get it often. Muskrats,
)possum, raccoons and other game fish, |
rogs, turtle and even snakes in certain
reasons, furnished part of the diet.
The large, harmless black snakes, found
n the swamps, We're the principal
aught alive, skinned and either made
nto kind of soup or broth, or else
leaned and fried No evil results Of
ating snakes were observed and the
legroes seemed surprised that any
hould be anticipated. They had been
ating black snakes for years and ap-
considered them very fine
Z