Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb... Roast Pig....

• The Mythical Origin: The narrator claims that for early humanity, meat was eaten raw, pointing to a legendary "cook's holiday" mentioned by Confucius. • Bo-bo and Hoti: A clumsy swineherd's son named Bo-bo accidentally burns down his family's cottage along with a litter of nine piglets. • The Discovery of Crackling: Distressed, Bo-bo touches the burnt skin of a piglet and accidentally tastes the crispy, delicious fat (crackling) for the first time in human history. • The Trial in Peking: When his father Hoti returns, they try to hide their delight, but neighborhood suspicion leads to their arrest and trial in Peking. However, the judge and jury sample the roast pig and immediately acquit them. • Spreading Madness: Soon, houses across the land are mysteriously burning down as everyone tries to replicate the delicacy, until someone finally figures out how to roast meat without torching an entire building.