GRILLED SNAKE

Evening Star, Issue 21012, 28 January 1932, Page 12

GRILLED SNAKE

; CHRISTMAS DINNER \ OLD CONVICT’S PASTJ. A Clristmas dinner provided by an old comet stockrider to Mr Edgar Foremai, a well-known Brisbane resident, vhen he was working on the property of the late Tom Petrie at the North line River sixty years ago, was lately rcalled by the latter. Mr Foreman sail that the old convict, who went by the ifime of Ned Dans, was a driedup, wizaicd fellow, who had only one eye. i “We both bunked in the same hut, and cooled our tucker together,” he said, “ aid I got to like the old chap, for lie wis good company. He showed me his hick, one day; it was just like tanned lide. The reason for that, he told me, was that when he, with other convicts, J was clearing the scrub from what is low the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, coiWcts who offended in anyway were ordired to kneel down- near a tree stump, ike off shirt and hat, and clasp thep hands together in front of them, ffiere they would have to remain fori hours at a stretch, exposed to the buning sun.” Later, {Mr Foreman said, old Ned was sent to another part of the property knivn as Petrie’s Pocket, near the mout of the river. There he had to live in a bark hut, and look after the cattle. Before leaving for his new station, lnwevor, he got Mr Foreman to promis to have the next Christmas dinner wih him. - When (hristmas came he was in high delight a| receiving his guest in his little hutJ The hut was isolated from any otheisettlement; it was clean and well keptj had a dirt floor, and contained a [link and a bark table. The table waslaicl with tin plates and two pannikins- there was no cloth. “ I reiernber, oven to-day,” said Mr Foreran, “ how proud -he old man was, and low happy that I had come to him, and I noticed how his solitary eye gleafed with satisfaction ias he dished uf the viands. But judge my surprise then I saw what the viands were! j “ Firstj came kangaroo rat soup, then griM-carpet snake, then baked porcupin<| winding up with plum pudding andbilly tea. I am sorry to say that oldlS’ed was not too pleased because I lid not do full justice to his wonderfu spread,” Mr Foreman confessed. I You see, I never did hanker after gijled snake, or baked porcupine, letalono kangaroo rat soup.”