FLESH FOOD FROM MAMMALS. 83 



feet and about two inches in breadth and thickness. It 

 is then placed on poles and allowed to dry in the sun 

 for two or three days, after which it is packed into 

 bundles, each man carrying off his share to his wife and 

 family." He then speaks of the dainty dishes of baked 

 elephant's feet and elephant's trunk. 



The flesh of the elephant is relished by the inhabitants 

 of many districts of Africa and Asia. Major Denham 

 speaks of it as being esteemed by all, and even eaten in 

 secret by the first people about the Sheik, and he adds 

 that though it looked coarse, it was better flavoured than 

 any beef he found in the country. 



The ancient Romans considered the trunk as the most 

 delicious part, but others fancy the foot to be the best. 

 What are sheep's trotters and insipid boiled calves' feet 

 compared to baked elephants' feet ? Gordon Gumming 

 thus describes the whole art and mystery of the pro- 

 cess of preparing them : — 



" The four feet are amputated at the fetlock joint, and 

 the trunk, which at the base is about two feet in thick- 

 ness, is cut into convenient lengths. Trunk and feet are 

 then baked, preparatory to their removal to headquarters. 

 The manner in which this is done is as follows : — ^A party, 

 provided with sharp-pointed sticks, dig a hole in the ground 

 for each foot and a portion of the trunk. These holes are 

 about two feet deep and a yard in width ; the excavated 

 earth is embanked around the margin of the holes. This 

 work being completed, they next collect an immense 

 quantity of dry branches and trunks of trees, of which 

 there is always a profusion scattered around, having 

 been broken by the elephants in former years. These 

 they pile above the holes to the height of eight or nine 

 feet, and then set flre to the heap. When these strong 

 fires have burnt down, and the whole of the wood is 

 reduced to ashes, the holes and the surrounding earth 

 are heated to a high degree. Ten or twelve men then 

 stand roimd the pit and take out the ashes with a pole 

 about sixteen feet in length, having a hook at the end. 

 They relieve one another in quick succession, each man 



g2 



