jendobyns

Wonderful! Where did you find this article? You do have the most interesting library

Well, so far nothing specific, although one of the folks who attended the foodways symposium on peas, beans and rice says they did discuss the presence of red beans. So kidney beans are possible (but not limas) and they did discuss how succotash was probably unrecognizable to us.

I didn't run into the botanist at the historic site where I volunteer, but he has planted some heirloom varieties of beans in the garden. I'll ask him if our schedules overlap on Friday and I see him.

oooh, very nice!

deleted

What a wonderful reference. Thank you.

Hmm, I'll have to check into the "kidney beans". I can't seem to find another reference for them by that name that early, but beans are rather problematic. Varieties typically had very different names. I wonder if there was some judicial re-labeling in the reprint?

Anyway, I'm going to track this down and see what comes of it.

Jen

In his book The Voyages and Travels of Captain Nathaniel Uring (1928 reprint, first published in 1726), Captain Uring describes several recipes from "the Colonies." They're kind of neat, so I am reprinting them.

“… [ I ] assisted the poor old Man in all his Plantation Business [while Uring was staying with them in 1698-9], as I did the Wife in beating Indian Corn to make Homine; which is done after this manner: They put such a Quantity of Corn in steep as they design to boil the next Day, and then take a small Quantity at a time and beat it in a wooden Mortar, which is made by hollowing a Piece of a Tree, and with a Pestle beat the Corn till it is broken into small Pieces, and the Husk separated from the Grain, which is facilitated by its being soaked in Water all Night: When they have beat the Quantity they design, they Winnow the Husk from the Grain, and put it into a Pot with some few Kidney Beans, and a sufficient Quantity of Water, with a Piece of Beef or Pork, and

__

Boil it, and it is excellent hearty Food, very wholesome and well tasted, and is what most of the poorer sort of People in that Country [the Colonies] live upon. We had no Oven belonging to our Mansion; but when Bread was wanted, the good Woman used to knead the Paste made of Indian Flower, and then grease the Inside of the Frying-pan with Pork or Beef Fat, and put the Paste into it, and covering it with broad Leaves, set it into the Ashes in the Fire-hearth, where it remained a certain Time sufficient to bake it, and then take it out, and it is a very good Loaf of Bread.

Another way of making Bread is, the daubing the Paste to a Board two Inches thick, and setting it before the Fire till it is baked on that Side, and setting it before the Fire till it is thoroughly baked. They have a good sort of Food that they make of the Indian Flower, which they call Mush. They boil it in the same manner we do Hasty-pudding, and eat it either with Milk or Molosses and Water.” (Uring, p. 12-3)

Welcome. It's a great adventure.

Haven't found the baroque horse smoking a pipe, but here's a great pic of pipe wear in skeletal remains:

http://www.anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/pipe.html

In the colonies they have excavated skeletal remains of both genders, and of the quite young (early teens) with tobacco pipe wear in the teeth (holes worn down by the clay in the pipes) I think this was either at St. Mary's City or Jamestown, so quite early in the American colonial period.

And years ago, somewhere on the net, I found a picture of a baroque styled horse with a pipe stuck up it's backside. I think it might have been a commentary on how you can take this medicinal use a bit too far? But I cannot find that illustration now! Off to go find images of tobacco use...

Jen

Thanks for the info on Thevenot.

I can't tell you the original sources regarding the colored lenses and different diseases, but iirc that research, which is OOP for this forum, was "published" on the Revlist (yahoo group) over a decade ago (between 10 and 13 years?). I have, since then, seen accounts that back up the "sunglasses" part, but since the disease part beyond migraines didn't interest me, I didn't take notes. Sorry. There are newspaper advertisements for glasses of various types in the newspapers of the time, too. If you have access to the PA Gazette, it could be a starting point. As would the Revlist group.

There was a wonderful pair of tortoise shell spectacles with dark green lenses on display at the Smithsonian years ago. They (the Smithsonian) might also have information for you.

Good luck!

Jen

I believe that particular part was written in the early 1650s.

Here's the Wiki bio on Jean de Thevenot.

While it affirms the use of sunglasses, there are a couple of things to take into consideration: 1) It refers specifically to Malta, which may mean it was not geographically widespread. 2) He also attributes the behavior to "Commanders and Knights" and not common folk, and 3) He casts aspersions on the behavior, believing it may do the opposite of what's intended.

Say, does someone have a reference for this Syphilis/tinted glasses thing? I have read at least twenty period books on medicine and a dozen or more period sailors accounts and never yet come across a reference to this.

Mission, that is just wonderful! Do you have a date for the work? I can't tell you how many people have got it into their heads that dark lenses were to protect the eyes of people suffering from venereal disease! In spite of research done over a decade ago proving that is just not so. Sigh

You're welcome. Oh, I forgot to mention another alternative to the bandanna. Not sure if this applies to sailors, but working men, and men at leisure (at home) wore caps to cover their heads. This piece of art work is a bit OOP, but gives you some idea: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/William_Hogarth_063.jpg

It's a relatively simple sewing project, and cheap, to make one.

Shaving heads happened. Made hygiene a bit simpler. Then top with wig for occasions where you were to look your best. Not sure that would have been done at sea, though. The average sailor, who knows for sure? Wigs came in all sorts of materials and price levels. And definitely, baldness happened!

So you're safe shaving your head and wearing the bandana.

Well then, me lad, ye might be wantin' to take a look at this work:

http://www.juliasmith.com/historicpottery/delftware.htm

Some right fine wares she has there!

And a twist of good Oronoco? *l*

Well that was interesting. Lots of food for thought, fodder for discussion. I totally agree, there is lots of supposition. A preponderance of bowls could also mean a crate of delftware brought back as booty was full of broken pieces. A lot depends on context, and I have enough questions after that article to make a post tedious.

I guess we can look forward to an explosion of pirates running around with delftware and chinese porcelain bowls and pipes now, eh?

Hmmm, can't seem to find Ivan Henry's info on shoes from the UK. Searching for shoes does not appear to be working right now. Is there a separate thread I'm missing? I'm almost ready to go to Sarah Juniper!

And thanks for the review of Robert Land. While they don't yet make a woman's shoe, the men's shoes could be very useful to some of the men in my group with foot issues.

KoS, the fugawees previously posted are likely the most worn model bt pirate re-enactors... it is true they are a bit later period... but as Jas said, they are close enough (basically earlier shoes had longer tongues and narrower latchets).

However, if you want to spend an extra $25 to $50 or more, and perhaps wait longer for the end product... closer to the mark shoes do exist. Look up Loyalist Arms (I personally have two pairs), the Practical Goose, or Reconstructing History for shoes that are a bit closer to the correct period style. If you do a search in the "Theive's Market" section of the pyracy pub you will find lots of links, suggestions and reviews by pub members on the various shoes available.

Michael, thank you! I keep forgetting about those guys! Theirs are more in the middle between the 17C and 18C shoes of the other vendors, aren't they? Good to see there are more choices out there.

However, one thing I haven't seen is a shoe vendor who has shoes that are kind to older, or more delicate, feet. Arthritis, orthotics, diabetes, etc., nobody is accommodating that in their shoes yet. None of us is getting any younger. Just sayin'...

Jen

Well, there's these: http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/mensshoes.aspx

and these: http://www.gggodwin.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=41

if you want to compare styles and prices, and I think Flying Canoe might also be carrying a 17C style.

You could also check out Fugawee. They are out of Florida and have a lot of folks who carry their shoes, so you have a chance of running into them at an Rendezvous or other event down your way.

The top three vendors all carry stockings. Burnley and Trowbridge don't have power restored from the hurricane yet, but the website works. In stockings there is a range. Get the type you like before the shoes, though. It will impact how they fit.

I wish I could show you how to do the latchet thing to tie them. Maybe Fugawee has a diagram on their website. I'm pretty sure I learned it from the info they send with their shoes. It is possible that velcro is involved (inside the shoe, and under side of latchet) for longer term use than just walking around. Will check my shoes later to see. But they Flying canoe doesn't do velcro, and when you get their shoes you walk around in them for a day then come back to have the buckles done (if you're buying in person). But not having gone through the process myself, and not observing how he does it, I can't tell you.

Oh, if it didn't disappear, there is a pic of the original shoes my husband used when we started out, remodeled from some men's oxfords. You might want to look at them to see what you can accomplish with modern shoes. Far from perfect, but a far cry from sneakers, too.

Jen

Good luck.

Sounds really fun! Part of me has a knee-jerk tendency toward accuracy, so it would be a challenge to let go of that. But I love the creative potential on an existing framework.

Jen

Welcome to the pub, KoS.

Mr. Hook there has put it well, the latchets are the straps. You don't have to invest in buckles right away, though. Break your shoes in first by wearing them around, you can fold the latchets over to the inside of your shoe and run a tape through the loop that is made by the fold. Tie the tape together in the center. The latchets should stay tucked into your shoe while you do this. With luck you will remember that when you get your first pair. Flying canoe makes a good product and is terrific at fitting shoes to the customer. You might want to see if they will be in your neck of the woods. Their customers all seem satisfied.

Jen dobyns

I have now been awake for 37 hours. Dizzy, nauseous, head, legs, back, and neck are killing me. Cannot take pain kilers, they only make me puke, cannot take muscle relaxers, they only make me more nauseous, cannot take any more ibuprofen or asprin because my stomach acid is all riled up. DAMN DAMN DAMN!!!

Well, in a few more days we'll be off-line again, so if I don't get to chat with any of ya'll, been good to be here. Glad to have gotten to know so many of you even though we never met. I suppose I'll be alright, but this time something tells me I'd better get ready to go. I hope everyone has a great life and enjoys the things we all take for granted. If I don't see anyone or get to talk with ya anymore, it's been a real pleasure being part of the pub.

Adios.

Bo

Time to find a good acupuncturist! Someone with good pain management experience. At least to make you more comfortable. Good luck.

Woke up this morning to 9" of rainfall, trees down, and the loss of a fence. Water over the roads and boats floating in the marshes. Interesting way to end a week between the earthquake, hurricane, and tornadoes.

Just waiting on the plague of locusts.

I've been informed by a friend that the locusts have been canceled for this year and replaced by stink bugs *G*

Just came across an interesting letter from a UK Tea company theorising on what Tea Bartholemew Roberts would have been drinking:

http://www.bartholomewroberts.com/

image link near the bottom of the page

Yep, bohea and hyson would be right for the period. I do wonder at lumping the hyson and gunpowder together, as I understand them to be separate types of green tea. You can get all 3 from Debprah Peterson.

heres a bit o' small thing to also consider......100% wool....wont hold a scent...besides that wool scent....let it air dry and a bit o sun and back to smelling like a lambs arse....dont quote me but i thought Linnen(100% natural had simmilar qualities? anyone know on this one?)......

soooo.....IF your wearring 100% and not a modern mixed fabric(which will hold the stink)....and unless you have the Tar stuck all over ya...how strong is the smell anyhow? or is it more the person hisself tha thas that odiferous aroma!??!

just for consideration....

and ps>

i will be sellin' my odiferous concoction.....ode de'Dogge..!?!?!

Personal experience tells me that linen, left to it's own devices, can develop quite an aroma. Nothing like washing the household's small clothes after a week of marinading in the hamper to tell you how ripe it can get! I think I'll experiment and see what happens when you air it out and dry well after an event before washing next time. Maybe it won't be so bad. You could be on to something there Dogge, it could be the person, not the clothing, that smells!