SC - Penguins are period, & so are elephants...

[Magdalena]

Richard Keith wrote:

> Please note, I was not my intention to suggest that Penguins were to be
> considered a stable or normal portion of  any  western medieval European
> diet.  I was only stating that they had been seen and reportedly eaten
> within our period.
>

So were lots of things.  ;>  Here's another example.


Alvise da Cadamosto, 1456, while on the Gambia river, describes eating elephant.

"I had a portion cut off, which, roasted and broiled, I ate on board ship... to
be able to say that I had eaten of the flesh of an animal which had never been
previously eaten by my countrymen.  The flesh, actually, is not very good,
seeming tough and insipid to me."


<snicker> I love this quote.  I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy of the
original work it came from.

- -Magdalena