84 ANIMAL FOOD EESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



running in and raking the ashes for a few seconds, and 

 then pitching the pole to his comrade, and retreating, 

 since the heat is so intense that it is scarcely to be en- 

 dured. When all the ashes are thus raked out beyond 

 the surrounding bank of earth, each elephant's foot and 

 portion of the trunk is lifted by two athletic men, stand- 

 ing side by side, who place it on their shoulders, and, ap- 

 proaching the pit together, they heave it into it. The 

 long pole is now again resumed, and with it they shove 

 in the heated bank of earth upon the foot, shoving and 

 raking until it is completely buried in the earth. The 

 hot embers, of which there is always a great supply, are 

 then raked into a heap above the foot, and another bon- 

 fire is kindled over each, which is allowed to burn down 

 and die a natural death ; by which time the enormous 

 foot or trunk will be found to be equally baked through- 

 out its inmost parts. When the foot is supposed to be 

 ready, it is taken out of the ground with pointed sticks, 

 and is first well beaten, and then scraped with an assegai, 

 whereby adhering particles of sand are got rid of. The 

 outside is then pared off, and it is transfixed with a sharp 

 stake for facility of carriage. The feet thus cooked are 

 excellent, as is also the trunk, which very much resembles 

 buffalo's tongue." 



These certainly not "petit " toes when pickled in strong 

 toddy, vinegar and cayenne pepper, are considered an 

 Apician luxury in Ceylon. 



Le Vaillant tells us that he found baked elephant's 

 foot was food fit for a king. " I had often heard (he 

 adds) the feet of bears boasted of, but I could not con- 

 ceive how an animal so heavy and coarse as the elephant 

 could produce so tender and delicate flesh. ' N-ever (said 

 I to myself), never can our modern Luculli display upon 

 their tables a dish like that which I now enjoy. In vain 

 with their riches do they change and reverse the seasons; 

 in vain do they boast of laying all Nature under contri- 

 bution ; their luxury has never yet attained to this grati- 

 fication ; bounds are prescribed to their sensuality.' And 

 I devoured without bread my elephant's foot, while my 



