88 THE OCTOPUS. 



To many persons who have not, Uke the Greeks, been accus- 

 tomed from childhood to regard it as a delicacy, the appearance 

 of an octopus, alive or dead, is very revolting ; and I admit that 

 its boiled carcase, put before one in unadorned simplicity, is not 

 appetizing. 



I shall never forget the utter loathing, ludicrously mingled with 

 determination to conquer or conceal that feeling, which was 

 depicted on the countenances of some of the guests at a me- 

 morable '' octopus-lunch " given by my friend Sir John Cordy 

 Burrows at Brighton, in 1874. 



His cook had never before prepared an octopus, and was, pro- 

 bably, not well pleased to do so then. The nasty-looking object 

 was placed on the table in all its undisguised ugliness. Its skin, 

 which in the process of boiling had become lividly purple, and had 

 not been removed, was in places offensively broken and abraded ; 

 and its arms, shrivelled and shrunk, sprawled helplessly on the 

 dish, and, somehow, looked, as they proved to be, as tough and 

 ropy as so many thongs of hunting-whips. Our genial host saw 

 in an instant that it was a failure in cookery, but, as usual, he was 

 equal to the occasion. With a twinkle of his eye he " took a sly 

 glance at me," and gravely handed a portion of the octopus to an 

 honoured guest. "Now, sir," said he, "just taste that, and 

 enjoy one of the luxuries of the ancient Greeks ! " The ancient 

 Greeks were, as it seemed to me, mentally anathematized ; but 

 the plate was accepted, its contents earnestly scanned, the knife 

 and fork just brought into contact with the viand, and then all 

 were thrust hastily away. A gallant colonel, who would probably 

 be in " the first flight " across country, and would not hesitate to 

 lead a charge of his regiment, also "craned" at his plate, and 

 declined to taste the " luxury." Sir Cordy then looked to me as 

 his " forlorn hope." With the air of a veteran and connoisseur I 

 helped him and myself to some of the most approved portions of 

 the leathery creature. Manfully and perseveringly for some 

 n inutes I tried to masticate a mouthful of it, but it was useless ; 



