IVORY COAST - HUNTING FOR FOOD

Since the growing season is a long one without frost during the night there are many varieties of trees that produce fruit all year around. This has value for green vegetables as well as yams that also need a long growing season. It then becomes important to hunt animals for extra protein foods. If no animal is found in the trap that has been set the night before or been snared in any other way the mother hopes there is something left in the dried food storage container as part of the entree. Even the small children have been able to help harvest this protein source that virtually drops into their laps.

After five months of extremely hot dry weather, a large variety of flying ants come out and gather in swarms around any lantern or light source. These ants are edible, sweet and oily and the children rush to catch them around any light. They pop some of them into their mouths for an immediate treat and the rest are placed in a pail with water so they can’t fly away. The mother puts these into an earthen cooking pot to roast and when dry they are crunchy and taste like bacon rind after being fried. These tasty treats are even available at the market.

Helen added, “Large hairy caterpillars are caught as they come down from the trees after they have eaten all the leaves. They are tossed live onto hot coals to singe off the hairs and of course quickly meet their demise. They are dried in the sun until crisp and stored in earthen containers for future use in the gravy when no other protein is available. Once cooked in the gravy the dehydrated caterpillars swell up and pop at first bite. This bothered me and I never did eat one, but ate the gravy when it was shared in the villages.”

“When that protein source is low the women wade in the streams and put their wicker baskets under the water. When they raise the basket, the water leaks out and small fish can be found at the bottom. Crocodile meat and fruit bats can be bought dried at the market. Someone gave me a piece of elephant meat and it was very tough and took many hours to cook. Children are very helpful in many ways by chasing the birds away when they come in flocks to scratch out the newly planted rice seeds. After the rice grows a few inches it is safe. Farmers often keep the children out of school because they are needed to chase the rabbits and large agouti rats out of he rice fields and gardens. Agouti rats are a favourite wild meat.