when ripe. The fleshy rootstalk is edible and full of
startch, and it should be baked for best results.
Animals
Foods derived from animals have more food
value per pound than those derived from plants.
You can increase your chances of survival by
learning the edible or otherwise useful parts of
animals. Also, learn how to prepare the edible parts
for cooking.
Most birds should be plucked and cooked with the
skin on to retain their food value. After a bird is
plucked, cut off the neck close to the body and clean
out the inside through the cavity. Wash it out with
fresh, clean water. Save the neck, liver, and heart for
stew. Most birds are easier to pluck after being
scalded. Waterfowl are an exception; they are easier
to pluck dry. Scavenger birds, like buzzards and
vultures, should be boiled at least 20 minutes before
you cook them. This kills the parasites. Save all the
feathers plucked from birds. You may want to use
them for insulating your shoes or clothing or for
bedding. Bird eggs are among the safest of foods. You
can hard-boil eggs and carry them for days as reserve
food.
Figure 6-10.--Bulrush.
Clean and dress the carcass of a fur-bearing
animal as soon as possible after killing it because
to delay will make your job harder. Cut the throat
5. TARO. The taro grows in moist, forested regions
of the animal and allow the blood to drain into a
of nearly all Tropical countries. Taro looks much like a
container. The boiled blood is a valuable source of
calla lily with leaves up to 2 feet long and stems about
food and salt. Save the kidneys, liver, and heart.
5 feet high. The bloom on this plant is a pale yellow
Use the fat surrounding the intestines. All parts of
flower about 15 inches long. It has an edible tuber
the animal are edible, including the meaty parts of
growing slightly belowground level. This tuber must be
the skull, such as the brain, eyes, tongue, and fleshy
boiled to destroy irritating crystals. After boiling the
portions. Save the skin. It is light when dried and
is good insulation as a bed cover or article of
tuber, eat it like a potato.
clothing.
6. BULRUSH. This familiar tall plant is found in
The meat of rats and mice is palatable,
North America, Africa, Australia, East Indies, and
particularly if cooked in a stew. Rats and mice
Malaya. It is usually present in wet, swampy areas. The
should be skinned and gutted, then boiled about 10
roots and white stem base may be eaten cooked or raw.
minutes before cooking. Either may be cooked with
(See fig. 6-10.)
dandelion leaves. Always include the livers.
7. TI PLANT. This plant is found in Tropical
Snakes (excluding sea snakes) and lizards are also
climates, especially in the islands of the South Pacific.
edible. Remove the head and skin before boiling or
frying snakes.
It is cultivated over wide areas of Tropical Asia. Both
the wild and cultivated plants have coarse, shiny,
Dogs, cats, hedgehogs, porcupines, and
leathery leaves arranged in crowded fashion at the tips
badgers should be skinned and gutted before
of thick stems. The leaves are green and sometimes
cooking. Prepare them as stew with a quantity of
reddish. This plant grows a large plumelike cluster of
edible leaves. Dog and cat livers are especially
flowers that usually droop. It bears berries that are red
valuable.
6-10
