William Brand

Trust me, Syren, you would have to be dressed up like a really bad, knock-off pirate muppet doll to even approach offending anyone at PIP. PIP is way too laid back.

You can't harbor a secret...publicly.

Snuff was first observed by Europeans in one of Columbus' voyages. It was used during the 1700s, but enjoyed less popularity than smoking tobacco.

This is an excerpt from the book Narcotic Culture by Frank Dikötter, Lars Peter Laamann, Zhou Xun... "The Spread of Madak c. 1660-1780 Engelbert Kampfer, a Westphalian physician working for the Dutch East India Company, recorded that the Javanese soaked their tobacco in water that made the head 'spin violently'. The opium required for this preparation quickly became the most precious traded commodity in Batavia. The first traders to introduce opium for smoking to China were probably the Dutch between 1624 and 1660, first to their trade posts in Taiwan, and from there to Fujin. During the tumultuous decades of the Ming-Qing transistion, opium (madak) smoking was confined to the Taiwan Strait, and not noted by the Qing authorities until Xaimen was captured in 1683. Javanese opium was blended with roots of local plants and hemp, minced, boiled with water in copper pans and finally mixed with tobacco: this blend is called madak. The mixture was prepared by the owners of smoking houses and fetched a prices significantly higher than for pure tobacco. Opium house owners in Taiwan also provided the smoking implement: a bamboo tube with a filter made of coir fibers produced from local coconut palms. Early reports from Taiwan indicate that they often offered the first smoke of madak free, serving copious amount of appetizers, food, and desserts. Travelers to Fujin and Taiwan observed that honey, candy and fruits were eaten as the opium was budding and crackling above the lamp. Contemporary observers such as Zhu Jingying also mentioned the opium (yapian) originated from parts of Southeast Asia which correspond to Indonesia and the Philippines today. The same author described the first opium pipes: made of tobacco, round, slender and with a fine opening, with a mouthpiece made of china clay. The substance was smoked with a hollow pot made of yellow clay, which was used to cook the opium. While the cleaning tool and the opium box were made of bamboo, opium paste scrapers were based on either iron or bamboo, flat or curved. Althought these early reports were condemnatory, the habit of smoking madak spread throughout the coastal provinces of South China, even though never exceeding the popularity of tobacco. A precise chronology is not possible in the absence of reliable source material. The first references to opium smoking date from the early eighteenth century and come from Fujin and Guangdong, the same ports of entry as for tobacco: 'The opium is heated in a small copper pan until it turns into a very thinck paste, which is then mixed with tobacco. When the mixture is dried, it can be used for smoking by means of a bamboo pipe, while fibres are added for easier inhalation. There are private opium houses where people gather to lie on couches and smoke in turns by passing the pipe around. This carries on till late at night and goes on night after night without a break' Another description is provided in a memorial sent to the Yongzheng emperor in the 1720s: Opium (yapian) is produced overseas, and the foreign merchants who import it as medicine (yaocai) derive a lucrative business from this trade, in particular in the Fujianese districts of Xiamen and Taiwan. Shameless rascals (wulai guntu) lure the sons of good families into [the habit] for their own profit. The opium is boiled down to a paste and blended into tobacco (yan) in order to produce smoking opium (yapianyan, i.e. madak). Privately run inns are established, where [smokers] congregate at night, only to disperse at dawn (ye ju xiao san), leading to licentious behavior. The truth is that youngsters become corrupted (xie) by smoking (xi) it until their lives collapse, their families' livelihood vanishes, and nothing is left but trouble. If one is intent on extirpating this evil (hai), one must tackle it at the root by ordering the imperial officials of Fujin and Guangdong to be strict in prohibiting the trade. Strict legal measures...will prevent any resurgence of the opium trade and lead to the closure of private opium houses." There's a little more, but I'm tired of typing it up.

The term 'recreational' is a relatively modern term when applied to drugs of any kind, but the use of opiates was common enough socially to be considered relatively public in regions such as China and India. For example, Opium was used socially as early as the fifteenth century in those parts of the world, but it was not used 'widely' due to expense. Opium became popular enough in China throughout the 1600s that prohibition was introduced by 1729 and references to the use of opiates in the East can be found all over the place by many Chinese historians down through the ages. This is all well and good for someone portraying a pirate in the Far East, but use of opium as we think of it in the West was limited to medicinal purposes such as laudanum from 1527. Opium dens would not arrive in force until the 1850s. Now, if you want to talk about smoking tobacco of the South seas, you may wish to study madak (or madat), which was tobacco mixed with herbs that often contained amounts of opium. Madak was the most widespread addictive substance that pirates might have used if traveling to those parts of the world such as Java, China, Taiwan, India and the Philippines. Pirates who travelled to the South seas, such as Kidd, may have seen or even used madak, but I have not found a reference to it. It could be argued that trade would have brought madak outside of this region to other parts of the world, so watch for it as you read.

August 5, 1704 - The Docks of St. Pierre Ajayi and Wellings were brought to the docks like so much delicate luggage. Ajayi tried several times to bear himself, but William would have none of it, insisting that both men should be born to the small boats. Durand and his men followed and William was at a loss for those words to make a proper farewell. Durand had done them much service and he wanted to make his gratefulness known. Still, as hard pressed as William was to explain himself, he was rendered utterly speechless by an unexpected, sudden and mysterious request from Durand upon reaching the water's edge. "Would you do me the honor of bearing me hence to Trinidad, Capitaine?" Durand asked even as William extended his hand to bid his farewells. William could only repeat the question with a question. "To Trinidad, Monsieur...?" "Oui." William exchanged a look with Dorian who was waiting for William at the dock's edge. Dorian paused as he was handing a musket to Tudor. William looked back at Durand. "What business brings you there, Monsieur?" "My own, Capitaine." William nodded. "But surely you will be missed, Monsieur?" "I have explained all." Durand returned, removing a letter from vest pocket. William had seen Durand penning a letter that very night while the Doctor had attended to Ajayi, but had thought nothing of it. Durand stood waiting. Unable to think of any significant cause not to take the man into his company, especially one who had proved himself invaluable of late, William was obliged to say 'yes' and found that he was glad to do so. "I would be honored, Monsieur." Durand smiled after his own fashion and passed the letter to a somewhat bewildered Babineaux. They exchanged only a few words, for Durand would not let himself be plied with questions. Instead, he paid his men handsomely and sent them with instructions to ride hard to St. Louis with his letters of explanation. He would go with the company of the Watch Dog and perhaps send more word from the Cul du Sac Royal. Only the briefest of farewells followed as Durand gathered those few belongings he had with him. Then Durand, Dorian, William and their company pushed away from the docks, bound for the waiting frigate and her welcoming watch lanterns.

Well, we'll have to get you together with some other award winning dancers that I could name at PIP this year.

Excellent. Which style did you perform? Tribal?

William stepped outside in time and was grateful for the breeze. He stood with the others, milling about with no particular effort of purpose or conversation. Everyone was tired, even the men of Durand who were waiting with Rousseau's carriage nodded where they stood or sat. Durand himself was nowhere to be seen at first, but he arrived in short order, bearing fare more substantial than the apples. The grateful assembly were thankful for the food which disappeared into every receiving hand. "How shall I repay your kindness, Monsieur?" William asked him at one point during the quiet which followed the eating. Durand was patting his vest and coat pockets for something and he shrugged. Then he found his pipe. "Perhaps some tobacco?" Durand returned. William smiled at this, but as he smoked so seldom, he never carried any of his own. Dorian passed what he had with him and the two men were soon in a lazy cloud of smoke and conversation. Dorian and Durand seemed strangely at ease, almost affable, and given Durand's threatening presence on the Lucy at their first meeting, this was surprising. Perhaps the common enemy they both shared in Rousseau had placed them on an even keel one with another. While they talked, William engaged Miss O'Treasaigh with a few direct questions, wishing to know how soon they might return to their waiting ships. She did not answer at first and blinked once, coming back from some thought or thoughts. She spoke plainly, measuring the Captain's pressing business against her patients. She assured him that aboard ship or on land, Ajayi and Joshua would heal, Of this she was certain. William was glad of the news and went to wake any who had dosed. It was time to quit the island.

This line alone is worthy of mention... "How I became of the works I was assigned me laden of burden from me master was that of a blacksmith." Will she bear a figurehead?

I look forward to the pictures of her in the water. It's always good to see another boat in the business, but they need to hire an editor and press agent to rewrite the materials on their webpage.

It is one of my personal favorites, but I always recommend seeing with a large group of people. Somehow it is far more fun with a big group. We watch it every few years for Talk Like a Pirate Day.

The dinner aboard the Navarra ended all at once, going from the first act through the third with little or no narrative. The underlying moodiness of the Lieutenant was not explained and Avendano remained cordial but quietly removed until the last. He went with them to the weather decks, wishing them well, but in few words. He sent Preston with a bottle of something amber colored and old, the label long since faded. The Lieutenant was brief as he had been all night, but Gasset was as pleasant again as he had been upon their arrival. "Peculiar supper." Charlie said, when they were far enough from the Spanish merchantman for his voice not to carry. The others chorused this in their own way, speaking of the company and not the fare. Preston examined the label by their solitary lantern. It was either a very lightly colored sack or a very dark white wine, and he noted the only legible word 'Rioja'. He didn't know why then, but the words of an associate of his father came to him as he turned the bottle over and over in his hands. The phrase had not crossed his mind in the many years since he had heard it last, but he recalled it quite clearly. "Only those with a tolerance for intrigues may escape the poison secreted within them".

That's a great box and I think the rope handles are just fine if you want to focus your free time on something else. Stop finding cool stuff for cheap. You're killing me.

You can see this form of 'tied up bag or cloth' represented in early art, generally being carried on the end of a good stick. I've seen the stick come up in several discussion, but people seldom add it to their kit. I inherited some very nice apple wood branches from my Dad's fruit trees this year and I plan to do a stick and bag combination for PIP.

Aye, Jon. You and Paula would be most welcome. Are you working on any projects for this year's events? It seems like everyone is making something ambitious this year.

Let's have a little mizithra to start out the day right.

Thanks for yet another good place to look for goods, Hawkyns. http://www.thepracticalgoose.com/ http://sykesutler.home.att.net/

That's a beauty. What year was it built? Any update on this carriage?

August 5, 1704 - Aboard the Navarra Preston explained the comings and going of Brand as he understood them, and not knowing Avendano, let alone all of the mysteries of the past 12 hours, he took the middle ground. He was neither too brief nor too long winded and Avendano seemed satisfied on every detail. Actually, he was almost too easily placated, returning at once to the matter of food and drink without another word. Preston had expected to be questioned, perhaps ordered about and returned to the Lucy in short order. Instead, they found themselves the idle guests of a luxurious table with no need to make explanations for themselves. Even more than this, Avendano was a removed host, who seemed content to watch them eat without conversation. After a time Charlie gave Preston a sort of facial shrug from where he sat. Maurice, left with nothing to translate, accepted the wine and fare continuously set before him. Peter looked skeptical and approached every bite with the caution of one testing poisoned food for a pontificate, but Joseph was glad of the food and ate freely. It was the Lieutenant that marred the seemingly perfect, casual scene. He drank nothing. He ate little. He engaged in conversation polite enough, but like Avendano, he did not openly engage them in conversation. It was a strange supper among strangers, but at least the cook was worth his shares.

Luigi was a good listener, having enjoyed many a good book in this fashion. He could read in Italian, but all other books were blank to him, and books from home were scarce since going abroad. He made a few comments from time to time, and sometimes interrupted with observations, but mostly he was quiet. As Treasure read he tried drinking with his diminished hand, but found it strange. "How shall I count to ten properly?" he quipped, flexing his remaining fingers. "Apologies. My thoughts wandered. Best start that last page over."

"Beg a better tale. Kildare won't..." Luigi began but realized he was talking in English and didn't have to, so he continued in Italian. He talked freely about books and about those he had know. Briar came in at the door again after a time bearing tea. She offered some to each of them. Since sugar had come aboard, neither refused and as Briar poured, Luigi begged the boon of a book. Briar promised to search among her few tomes and perhaps ask Mister Warren for one from the Ward Room. She went in search of several volumes. "See...? She can't tie you to a chair with rope, but a book..."

He smiled to watch her pacing. "Y'll holystone the place, lass." He laid back and examined the place where one finger had been. "I'll be busy finding proper gloves." Briar came in at the sound of conversation asked if they would want another candle. They both shook their heads. Briar checked Luigi's bandages once and gave Treasure a mildly scolding look before carrying a few bowls to the galley. Treasure was still measuring the room in footsteps. Luigi shook his head. He looked a little blurry about the edges and too many hours abed with medicinal drink and not a little rum, where making him feel half drowned. "Miss Tribbiani..." She looked at him, but he found that he didn't know where he was going with the conversation. He smiled. "When she comes again, ask her for that candle...and perhaps eh book."

I'll do you one better. Send it to me and I'll clean it and send you a nice photo for the wall.

The first few minutes passed in relative silence, but for a few exchanges between William, Dorian and Durand about the how, when and where of getting to the docks. Then William focused on Ajayi and while Dorian held a lantern he went to work on the fingers. Ajayi did not need an explanation. William took his hand and they looked at one another for a sober second before William yanked. Ajayi doubled over and buried his head against William chest a moment. Then he let his head fall back with a look of diminishing pain and some relief. Then, he looked back at William. They performed this action several times, righting fingers that were bent and twisted out of place. It was horrible stuff, but the added relief that returned to Ajayi's face with each action was enough. Then Ajayi was speaking in his own tongue, almost easily. William was glad of it, for the language took him away from the place and the moment. They passed a cart man bound for home as they went. He was bearing apples unsold at market. Durand brought the procession to a halt to buy up the remainder. Everyone was glad of it, and there were several appreciative sounds and nods. Everyone was hungry. William passed the first apple offered him to Ajayi, and regretted it at once, remembering the man's teeth. Ajayi was not ungrateful. He simply gestured to William knife and pared off small pieces. Then they were riding again, eating as they went. William ate without care of his beard, but soon realized he had lost or misplaced his handkerchief. He looked down at his hands and sleeves, finding them bloodied, soiled and dusty. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve almost in time with Dorian, and they shared a chuckle at their appearance. "Should we come upon anyone else before the Watch Dog, let us not call each other captain." "Agreed." Dorian laughed and it was a good sound after so much darkness and shadows. "You there..." he called to Durand's man. "A good man with a lan'ern." The man did not understand, so Durand translated. The man smiled and shrugged and returned a line he seemed to draw from memory. William couldn't place it, but Dorian translated. "Let your light so shine before men..." he began, and William and Dorian finished the scripture together, though badly. "We shall agree not to be priests as well." "Aye." The banter flowed. The apples disappeared. Ajayi looked almost happy to be alive, free and in their company. Almost, but sober as well.