Where has all the sheep tripe gone?

OUR people, particularly the Indian community have mounting reasons of a gastronomic imperative to be aggrieved. Indeed much disturbed!

Where has all the sheep tripe aka botie gone? This cheap (not cheap any more) delicacy often prepared as tripe and onions western style, botie and gram dhal or braised in masala and onions or vegetables, has just disappeared from butchers and consequently from our tables.

We are painfully aware of what is happening to our rhinos and now, disturbingly, our elephants. They are being mercilessly slaughtered for their horns and tusks.

Are these precious animals being slaughtered by the greedy poachers to be used for medicinal purposes – apparently for erotic stimulation – and sheep tripe for their tables seemingly to satisfy their exotic quality?

Sir, we can say, “shame on you Chinese and shame on you Vietnamese” for stealing our sheep tripe and threatening the demise of our rhinos and elephants. What is disturbing is that an Indian businessman seems to have the monopoly of all the tripe in the country and then export it to China. Not fair.

Now lo and behold, our donkeys are being butchered for their skins. Can you believe the gelatin from the skins is being used for medicinal purposes? Beware for the safety of your dogs and cats. They could be making their way to China and Vietnam for their China/Vietnam bunny chow!

I wish to share a secret with you. A little dung beetle claims that a daily dose of dung from herbivores is highly recommended for all kinds of ailments. Here is an opportunity for some enterprising entrepreneur to export dry pocketed dung of rhinos, elephants, and our beloved sheep who supply our botie to China and Vietnam. But please leave our dogs and cats alone.

R MUNISAMY

Isipingo Hills