The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-09-27
CHINESE BILL OF FARE
RICE THE STAFF OF LIFE IN THE
FLOWERY EMPIRE.

a Chinaman 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 20. 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 II
would be to say that the American
dimes on horsefesh.
Rice is the staff of life in China.
That is, in the southern part, but in
the northern regions millet takes its
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 ID
which you are, appears on the table
twice a day, for that is as often as
Chinaman is supposed to eat, in the
homes of the rich and poor alike,
though he generally slows away
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 VIII accompany
this staple diet.
The laborer is content to find on his
table his bowl of rice and a vegetable
or two. Sometimes a 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 a great luxury. and
are not found except on the tables
of the rich. Neither are the fishes
maws despised, but rather consid-
cred as dainty. Small fishes of
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 a sight nearly as amusing as
it is Disgusting
This is not the least of the articles
of food considered as great delicacies
by the Chinese which are rather
nauseous to us. Hundreds of 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,
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 infrnl.
Snakes are eaten by the poor people
il some parts of China; for instance,
in the neiGhborhood 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 N the
term. One authority on the subject
says that he saw a man in Swallow
hawking long brown snakes in has
ket for food. There were three or
four of them" he says tiled 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 a 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 the way
from Ceylon and Malaga, where they
are gathered at great risk from the
caves on the seashOre. These nests
are not ut 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 ge-
laIlQOuS SUDSldHCe Sl1ullsil W illSh
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 birds nest soup, ira aslated
from the Chinese;
"Take clean white birds nests
shreds, or bros 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 q long
time; for, if not boiled till tender, it
will cause diarrhoea"
The manner of preparing food in
C,hipo &c totally different than with us