05.13.07
Snakes in a Barbershop
Being at work eleven hours a day at the barber shop has given me the unique experience of remaining in the same location for an extended period of time day in and day out. This is something that in three years in China I have never before experienced, and it has allowed me the chance to observe the various street vendors who stroll by.
Of all the vendors, none stick out in my mind as much as the one who I call Snakeman. Every day Snakeman walks up and down the street in front of the shop carrying a canvas bag and yelling 老蛇，老蛇 (Snakes! Snakes!). Normally the call of “Snakes! Snakes!” is reason for alarm, but in this case it’s the creatures in the bag who should be scared for their lives. Snake meat is considered a delicacy in Fuzhou, and apparently rather than buying it at the market, locals can just wait for Snakeman to deliver it to them.
Yesterday, I had the fortune of catching Snakeman in the middle of a sale. If you have a short stomach, please do not scroll down any further.
Here’s how it works. When a customer wants to buy a snake, Snakeman reaches into the canvas bag and pulls out a live snake. First he slices off the head and throws it on the ground. As the severed head continues to flop about around on the ground, Snakeman proceeds to de-skin the snake by ripping it from head to tail in the same fashion as peeling a banana. This is done without allowing the snake the courtesy of at least dying first from decapitation before it endures further mutilation. As the skin is ripped off, the snake continues to squirm about in Snakeman’s arms, and once it is completely removed, Snakeman uses a knife to sever the snake into multiple semi-bite-sized pieces. Again, the snake is still moving even after it has been decapitated, skinned, and dismembered. The leftover snake guts are discarded on the pavement, and the edible snake pieces are handed to the customer, wrapped in a plastic bag, and still moving slightly.
Scroll down to see some graphic pics of Snakeman in action. Again, if you get grossed out easily, you probably don’t want to see this.
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Snakeman begins by cutting off the head and ripping the skin from the top.
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Next he peels off the skin like a banana.
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As the skin is removed, the snake continues to fight for its life.
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| The snake, now headless and skinless, continues to squirm about in Snakeman’s hands. |
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| The process leaves a nice little mess on the pavement outside of the barbershop. |
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| All I can say is….”I’ve had it with these motherfucking snakes in my motherfucking barbershop.” |
Isabel Anheier
said,
May 13, 2007 at 10:30 am
Pretty crazy stuff- ever thought about trying the snake meat for yourself, or have you already?
Smitha
said,
May 13, 2007 at 11:40 am
I chanced upon your blog during a random Web search and I must say I have really enjoyed reading your experiences. And I can’t stop myself from listening to the songs from your music collection!! For the record, I am a teacher too although not a barber right now
. Anyway, cheers for a nice blog all the way from Henan Province!
Jeremy
said,
May 13, 2007 at 11:42 am
it was very common to see snake-sellin on the streets couples of years ago here,but its sorta rare now. catchin such a scene right in fronta ur salon is really an astonishment for me.
Kim
said,
May 13, 2007 at 11:55 pm
That was just the write quote for the last photo caption! The “quote juste”.
Nice story…maybe your next customer will be Medusa.
Jason
said,
May 14, 2007 at 1:38 am
I remember eating snake in Wuyishan and the cook invited us to come back and watch him…er…slaughter the snake.
Fascinating! But yeah, really gross.
jenn
said,
May 14, 2007 at 9:44 am
Ewe ewe ewe!
That is one thing we don’t see in Nanjing and I am thankful for that.
Benjamin Ross
said,
July 1, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I actually just ate snake for the first time a few days ago, and I must say it is quite tasty. However, I am not the one getting decapitated and skinned.