Posted on 03/20/2007 11:02:30 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
SAN FERNANDO DE APURE, Venezuela As dusk fell on the tropical wetland crawling with iguanas and small crocodilian caimans, José Ismael Jiménez pointed his harpoon at a rodent about the size of a Labrador retriever. With aim that comes from years of practice, he landed his spear on the back of its head.
Farmhands turned hunters stalking the wild capybara, reputedly the worlds largest rodent, on Saturday on Hato Santa Luisa. One of them hurled a harpoon at a wounded capybara. The meat is then salted and dried. But this hunt was not about ridding the countrys southern plains of varmints. It was about whats for dinner.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Years ago, the most famous B&W film describing an Amazon piranha-attack was a capybara chased into the waterthen shot. It was a white skeleton in minutes.
Anyway.... We lived with them for about a week and a half, doing some general work, and securing 5 of them to go back to the "camp" (Lomalinda, Colombia, now in the slap dab middle of FARC territory) and work on linguistics. We paid them to spend the night in their homes and feed us. Our meals were simple.... boiled green bananas, three times a day. Kinda like oatmeal but not as tasty (smile). One night we got a special treat, MEAT! They had a few hogs and chickens, but these were reserved for the indians themselves. We got the next best thing. A jungle rat, commonly eaten by the Indians. I would (and will) eat anything, so I just dug in. And you know what? It tasted GOOOOOOODDDDD! I would happily eat it again.
The happiest memories of that trip, though, were listening to Lee tell of a man who healed others and then claimed to have authority to forgive sins. The hearers made the quick jump (as had the Pharisees years ago) that only (a) God could make such a claim. I have memories of being exahusted, in smokey rooms/huts, with dark, impassive eyes looking intently as Lee read this brand new story. That time was the highlight of my life.
But yeah, I ate rat, and it was good.
First laugh of the day!
:)
The trees are next, just like in North Korea.
I suppose if you're hungry enough, anything can be considered a delicacy.
Excuse me while I go to......
I visited some missionary friends in Colombia once and my favorite food there was yucca fries. Beat french fries hands down. I wasn't brave enough to try any meat, like gerbil or hamster, or whatever it is they keep around the house and grow. I think it was gerbil. They can get to pretty enormous size.
De nada, chica.
Yucca fries! I think the best thing about them is that they don't soak up as much grease. I agree that they beat french fries hands down. I also loved papaya. I have returned to Latin/South America several times over the years, I love it so. I actually hitchiked down there and back (no road between Panama and Colombia, so had to fly for that stretch). I went all the way from Panama to my home in Alabama starting with 37 dollars in my pocket. The warmth, kindness, and hospitality of the people I met was something that impressed me deep down inside.
For this reason, when I see some of the hateful slurs about Latinos people post when they get riled up about the immigration problems, it really frosts me.
Because of my wife's health, a career with Wycliffe was impossible. However, we are thinking about "retirement" as ESL teachers either in Colombia or Ecuador. I can pick up a masters degree at a local univ in a year.
Thanks for the response.
DoP
Ugh! I think I'll pass on this one. ;-)
Venezuelan hunters heard about John Robinson's new upgrade!
We were attacked!
Happy capy!
Ulp! ...Now where DID I put those little white bags???
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