Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-28
CHINESE BILL OF FARE.
RICE THE STAFF OF LIFE IN THE
FLOWERY EMPIRE.


A Chnaman will eat anything that
he can bite. He turns up his nose at
nothing, although he is not so fond
of rats, mice and puppies as we are
inclined to 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
probability will be a large sleek ro-
dent. 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 COM
mon articles of food for the millions in
China is no more truthful than it
would be to say that the American
dimes on horseflesh.
Rice is the staff of life in China
That is, in the southern part, but in
the northern regions millet takes it's
place as the mainstay of the peo-
pie. Both of these grains are con-
sumed in enormous quantities. One
according to the part of China in
which you are, appears on the table
twice Il day, for that is as often as a
Chinaman is supposed to eat, in the
homes of the rich and poor alike.
though he generally slows away n
few things between meals. The diff
ference between the tables of the rich
and the poor is to be found in the rel
ishes or side dishes which accompany
this staple diet.
The laborer is content to find on his
table his bowl of rice and a vegetable
or two. Sometimes piece of pork or
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 consid-
cred as a dainty. Small fishes of a
variety somewhat like the sardine are
eaten alive, and the evident enjoyment
which the Celestial derives from feel
ing them wriggle their way down
affords sight nearly as amusing as
it is disgusting
This is not the least of the articles
of food considered as great delcacies
by the Chinese which are rather
fn II Of iS1,
brown worms, fresh from the rice
fields, are offered for sale by peddlers,
while salted and picked eggs, having
for their recommendation their old
age, are greatly priced. There are,
however, certain things which a Chi
nese stomach rebels. Our fondness for
butter and cheese, for example, is ut
terly incomprehensible to the Celes-
tial. Cows milk is rather tolerated
than liked, while women's milk is sold
on the streets, being considered very
healthy for the aged and infirni.
Snakes are eaten by the poor people
in some parts of China; for instance,
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 n man in Swatow
hawking long brown snakes in has
ket for food. "There We're three or
four of them" he says, "tied with
strings around their neck, the strings
being fastened to the top of the basket
to prevent their escape. They are
rather an expensive article of diet
costing about seventy cents each"
which is great deal in country
where a mans wages are from three
to five cents.
The famous birds nest soup is made
from birds nests brought all tie way
from Ceylon and Malaga, where they
are gathered 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 are made almost entirely of a ge
latinous 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 So. Here is recipe for
Preparing piyds' nest soup, ira aslated
from the Chinese; N4g5t g. ti:f92 ss--v'-
"Take clean white birds nests
shreds, or birds' nests, and soak thor
oughly. Pick out all the feathers.
Boil in soup or water till tender and
of the color of jade-stone. Place
pigeons eggs below and add some ham
shreds ON top. Boil again slowly with
little fluid. If required sweet, then
boil in clear water till tender, add
sugar candy and then eat. This is a
most clear and pure article, and thick
or oily substances should not be
added. 1t should be boiled for long
time; for, if not boiled till tender, it
will cause diarrhoea."
The manner of preparing food in
China is totally different than with us.
Roasts are seldom indllged in, nearly