Kuskus Feast

Kuskus Feast
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.
We recently participated in a culture event--eating a kuskus (a type of
rodent, like a tree squirrel). There was a full moon a few weeks ago, so
the men went hunting since it was bright out at night. They caught 5
kuskus. In the morning, they wrapped up the meat, cut up potatoes, and
different kinds of leaves in large banana leaves and piled hot rocks on top
of it to let it steam all day. They also made another little package with
the paws, a small bird, some leaves, and a beetle and piled hot rocks on top
of that. Finally around 4pm, the women opened up the small package and
hungrily devoured the cooked leaves. Then one of the
men came and divided the small amount of meat from the paws, or legs, and
everyone ate their share. After that, the men cooked up
some rice and ramen noodles (called super mie in Indonesia), and then opened
up the large package of meat and potatoes. The meat was taken out to
be divided later. Then they squished all the green stuff
out of the intestines all over the food, and everyone devoured as many
potatoes as they could eat. After all the potatoes were gone, the men went into the back of
the hut, where the men sleep, and divided out the meat. They gave us a bit,
then we went on home.