FLESH FOOD FROM MAMMALS. 87 



The same may be said of the tongue, which he often had 

 smoked and salted. The meat is remarkably fibrous and 

 is one continuous tissue of sinews. 



Captain A. Lindley, in his work " After Ophir," says : 

 " We dined off hippopotamus steak. It was not much 

 relished, however, and we did not care to try it again ; 

 but then the dark-coloured, coarse, and peculiarly 

 flavoured flesh — a little more beef than fowl, and a 

 little more flsh than beef — though pretty tender and 

 fairly succulent, could not be compared with the 

 sweet wild-fowl and delicious venison we generally 

 had at table." 



The flesh of the rhinoceros is devoured in Abyssinia, 

 and by some of the Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony it 

 is held in high esteem. So is hippopotamus meat, as 

 we have seen, which is eaten either roasted or boiled. 

 The fat with which these animals are covered is con- 

 sidered delicious ; it is used in making puddings instead 

 of butter. When salted it is greatly prized not only 

 for the table, but for its reputed medicinal qualities. 

 The Portuguese settlers on the east coast are per- 

 mitted by their priests to eat the flesh of this animal 

 in Lent, passing it off as fish, from its amphibious habits, 

 and hence their consciences are at ease. 



The flesh of the American tapir (Tapirus Americanus) 

 although described by Europeans as unsavoury, coarse 

 and dry, is considered palatable by the Indians. It 

 somewhat resembles beef. The fatty protuberance on 

 the nape of the neck is a delicacy which would do 

 honour to the table of a modern LucuUus. The feet 

 and groin cooked to a jelly are also morsels for a king. 

 Most wild swine are, however, horribly rank, but by 

 proper feeding they become delicious. A boar's head is, 

 however, an appreciated delicacy of old reputation. 



There are two species of peccary (Dicofeles) met with 

 in South America. Both have on the back a fetid open 

 gland, which must be cut out as soon as the animal is 

 killed, for if allowed to remain the flesh would be un- 

 eatable. The peccaries are said by all those who have 



