DIFFICULTIES OF COOKING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXIV, 14 December 1895, Page 756

DIFFICULTIES OF COOKING.

In African encampments the question of food is a burning one. How to obtain provisions, how to cook them when procured—these are problems of absorbing interest in a pioneer camp. The authors of * Adventures in Masbonaland ' say that it is curious and interesting to watch the process of victualling a new country. The trader throws the most eccentric provisions on the marke l ’. At one time, the author says, nothing but tinned lobster could be purchased at their settlement; and at another time the whole of Manica breakfasted, dined and sopped on Joie gras. Our cooking utensils consisted of a threelegged pot and a frying pan. How were we to create a dinner ? We boiled the ex flash in the three legged pot, whence it issued in the condition of shoe leather. Mixing the meal with water, wo made the most horrible half cooked flat cakes by beating the dough on hot stones. There was neither baking powder nor yeast in the country. One day we received a present of venison,

shot by aMr Teal. Now I had from time to time saved up a small quantity of sardine oil, believing myself to be a famous housekeeper. In a moment of vain self-con-fidence I undertook the dinner that night, and we invited Mr Campion to come and eat venison steaks.

I fried those steaks in my sardine oil, and served them prondiy. They positively looked like real steaks, such as people would eat at home. But, alas I scarcely had two mouthfuls been eaten when every one tied from the table, and my wonderful dinner was abandoned to the little native who waited on us. He certainly enjoyed it immensely,*so even that ill wind blew somebody good ; but it was unanimously decided that henceforth I was never to be trusted with the preparation of meals.