Mission

Robinson Crusoe is a great book for success lessons. I actually thought about putting a training together using it as a basis. (My book contains all sorts of sections highlighted in different colors in preparation for the training.) I finally abandoned it as being too intricate and gimmicky while really not adding much that was more instructive than the concepts themselves.

Say.....I didn't get anything. Just a hint of a minor, slight suggestion...maybe it would be wise to have people PM you if they didn't get anything?

This is an equally fascinating story of Juan Fernandez. It is actually from Dampier's book, but I don't have the complete quote or the book, so I'm citing Cooke's rewriting of Dampier's book. In several ways, the Indian is more clever than Selkirk. “…and [Dampier] being come to the Island of Juan Fernandes, speaks of it thus: March the 22d, 1684, we came in Sight of the Island, and the next Day got in and anchor’d in a Bay at the South End of it, in 25 Fathom Water, not two Cables Length from the Shore, sending immediately ashore to see for a Mosquito Indian, whom we left here when we were chas’d by three Spanish Ships, in the Year 1681, Capt. Watlin being __ then our Commander, after Capt. Sharp was turn’d out. This Indian liv’d here above three Years, and was several times sought after by the Spaniards, who could never find him. When left ashore by Capt. Watlin, he was hunting of Goats in the Woods, and had with him his Gun, a Knife, a small Powder-horn, and a few Shot; which being spent, he contriv’d, by notching his Knife, to saw the Barrel of his Gun into small Pieces, of which he made Harping-Irons, Spears, Hooks, and a long Knife, heating the Pieces first, and then striking with his Gun-Flint, and a Piece of the Barrel he had hardn’d having learn’d to do that among the English. The hot Pieces of Iron, he hammer’d out, and bent as he pleas’d, with Stones saw’d them with his jagg’d Kinfe, ground them to an Edge with long Labour, and harden’d them to a Temper. With these Instruments he got such Provision as the Island afforded, either Goats or Fish, and told us, that at first he was forc’d to eat Seal, a coarse Sort of Food, which he afterwards never kill’d, but to make Thongs of their Skins. He had a little House, or Hut, half a Mile from the Shore, all lin’d with Goats Skins; his Couch of Sticks, rais’d about two Foot from the Ground, cover’d with the same was his Bed. Having worn out all his Cloaths, he had only a Skin wrapp’d about his Waste. Believing our Ships to be English, when at a Distance, he kill’d three Goats, and dress’d them with Cabbage, to treat us when we came ashore, coming down to the Sea-side, to congratulate our safe Arrival.” (Cooke, p. 104-5)

I also missed a great opportunity for a splendid rhyming joke between reality and the original quote. (But I fixed that one. I find it much more droll now.) Still, it appears the EG label would fit better...you accede? (You're the most unabashedly geniusey woman I almost know.)

Nah, you can't fool me. You're an evil genius. (Pinky extended.) "Do you expect me to talk?" "No Random Student Council Member #9, I expect you to cry! There is nothing you talk to me about that I don't already know."

I'm reading Edward Cooke's A Voyage to the South Sea and Round the World in the Years 1708 to 1711 which is another account of Woodes Rogers' privateering voyage. It contains loads of material on the Incas culled from other sources. I'm also trudging through Woodall's The Surgions Mate ever so slowly as I enter the book in just about its entirety into my notes. I have learned to read it despite all the odd typesetting and it is a very thorough and interesting book once you can comprehend it. Plus, just for fun, I'm reading Love, Life, Goethe: Lessons of the Imagination from the Great German Poet by John Armstrong. It is a very interesting book. Please note that I am not reading Goethe's poetry as I still have no use for poetry in the main. However, Goethe's life and philosophy are both quite fascinating when stated in prose.

The 'Pooch' as you so quaintly refer to him is called Butch. Don't mess with him. His bite is worse than his bark! Now it's Diabolically Special!?! How did you get the inside track with Stynky? We all get stuck with things like Drunken Sturgeon and Random Pub Member #9 you go from Evil Genius to Diabolically Clever to Diabolically Special. (Personally, I think the first one was more on the mark. In your case, it is sooooo hot. Diabolically Special sounds like you get to ride the Special Bus and take the Special Classes.)

I was just entering the bit about Selkirk in Cooke's book into my notes (I'm doing a section on him under health concerns of marooned sailors) and I thought I'd just insert all my notes from Cooke and Rogers on him for those interested. (I doubt this is everything that was in Rogers' book about Selkirk who Rogers seemed to be fascinated with - he nicknamed him "the Governour" and referred to him throughout the rest of his narrative. So you should really read the Rogers' account for yourself. This does contain everything that Cooke has to say, so I wouldn't bother with that one. Cooke didn't seem to find him very interesting.) “[Alexander Selkirk] had with him his Clothes and Bedding; with a Firelock, some Powder, bullets, and Tobacco, a Hatchet, a Knife a Kettle, a Bible, some practical Pieces, and his Mathematical Instruments and Books. He diverted and provided for himself as well as he could; but for the first eight months had much ado to bear up against Melancholy, and the Terror of being left alone in such a desolate place. He built two Hulls with Piemento Trees, cover’d them with long Grass, and lin’d them with the Skins of Goats, which he kill’d with his Gun as he wanted, so long as his Powder lasted, which was but a pound and that being near spent, he got fire by rubbing two sticks of Piemento Wood together upon his knee.” (Rogers, p. 72) “[selkirk] might have had Fish enough, but could not eat ‘em for want of Salt, because occasion’d a Looseness, except Crawfish, which are there as large as our Lobsters, and very good.” (Rogers, p. 72) “He told us that his Agility in pursuing a Goat had once like to have cost him his Life; he pursu’d it with so much Eagerness that he catch’d hold of it on the brink of a Precipice, of which he was not aware, the Bushes having hid it from him; so that he fell with, the Goat down the said Precipice a great height, and was so stun’d and Bruis’d with the Fall, that he narrowly escap’d with his Life, and when he came to his Senses, found the Goat dead under him. He lay there about 24 hours, and was scarce able to crawl to his Hutt, which was about a mile distant, or to stir abroad again for ten days.” (Rogers, p. 72) “He [selkirk] found there also a black Pepper called Melangita, which was very good to expel Wind, and against Griping of the Guts.” (Rogers, p. 72) “He soon wore out all his Shoes and Clothes by running thro the Woods; and at last being forc’d to shift without them, his Feet became so hard, that he run every where without Annoyance; and it was some time before he could wear Shoes after we found him; for not being us'd to any so long, his Feet swell’d when he came first to wear ‘em again.” (Rogers, p. 72-3) “The Rats gnaw’d on his Feet and Clothes while asleep, which oblig’d him to cherish the [wild] Cats with his Goats-flesh; by which many of them became so tame, that they would lie about him in hundreds, and soon deliver’d him from the Rats. He likewise tam’d some Kids, and to divert himself would now and then sing and dance with them and his Cats; so that by the Care of Providence and Vigour of his Youth, being now but about 30 years old, he came at last to conquer all the In conveniences of his Solitude, and to be very easy. When his Clothes wore out, he made himself a Coat and Cap of Goat-Skins, which he stich’d together with little Thongs of the same, that he cut with his Knife. He had no other needle but a Nail; and when his Knife was wore to the back, he made others as well as he could of some Iron Hoops that were left ashore, which he beat thin and ground upon Stones. Having some Linen Cloth by him, he sow’d himself Shirts with a Nail, and stich’d ‘em with the Worsted of his old Stockings, which he pull’d out on purpose. He had his last Shirt on when we found him in the island.” (Rogers, p. 73) “The Climate is so good, that the Trees and Grass are verdant all the Year. The Winter lasts no longer than June and July, and is not then severe, there being on a small Frost and a little Hail, but sometimes great Rains. The Heat of the Summer is equally moderate, and there’s not much Thunder or tempestuous Weather of any sort.” (Rogers, p. 73) “By this one may see that Solitude and Retirement from the World is not such an insufferable State of Life as most men imagine, especially when People are fairly call’d or thrown into it unavoidably, as this Man [selkirk] was, who in all probability must otherwise have perish’d in the Seas, the Ship which left him being cast away not long after, and few of the Company escap’d.” (Rogers, p. 74) “It may likewise instruct us, how much a plain and temperate way of living conduces to the Health of the Body and the Vigour of the Mind, both which we are apt to destroy by Excess and Plenty, especially of strong Liquour, and the Variety as well as the Nature of our Meat and Drink: for this Man [selkirk], when he came to our ordinary Method of Diet and Life, tho he was sober enough, lost much of his Strength and Agility.” (Rogers, p. 74) “[February 1, 1709] The Duke Boat went ashore [at Juan Fernandez Island], and found one Alexander Selkirk, who had been formerly Master of the Cinque Ports Galley, an English Privateer in those Parts; and having some Difference with the Captain of said Ship, and she being leaky, he left the said Capt. Stradling, going ashore on this Island, where he continu’d four Years and four Months, living on Goats, and Cabbages that grow on Trees, Turnips, Parsnips, &c. He told us a Spanish Ship or two which touch’d there, had like to have taken him, and fir’d some Shot at him. He was cloath’d in a Goat’s-Skin Jacket, Breeches and Cap, sew’d together with Thongs of the same. He tam’d some wild Goats and Cats, whereof there are great Numbers.” (Cooke, p. 34)

From Edward Cooke's book A Voyage to the South Sea and Round the World in the Years 1708 to 1711: “…at Nine shipp’d a Sea at the Poop, as we were in the Cabbin going to eat; it beat in all the Cabbin-Windows and Bulk-Head, and hove the first Lieutenant half way between the Decks, with several Muskets and Pistols that hung there, darting a Sword that was aginst the Bulk-Head of the Cabbin, through my Man’s Hammock and Rug, which hung against the Bulk-Head of the Steeridge, and had not the Bulk-Head of the great Cabbin given way, all we who were there must inevitably have been drown’d, before the Water could have been vented. Our Yaul was stav’d on the Deck, and it was a Wonder that many were not kill’d with the Shutters, the Bulk-Head, and the Arms, which were drove with a prodigious Force; but God in his Mercy deliver’d us from this and many other Dangers. Only one Man or two were hurt, and some bruis’d, but not one Rag of dry Cloaths left us, our Chests, Hammocks, and Bedding, being all soak’d in Water. This twenty four Hours Course South, Latitude per Estimation at 61 Deg. 48 Min.” (Cooke, p. 31)

Bleaaah. Now I have to learn to write '09 on my checks. Thank God e-commerce has replaced many check writing duties. “PIRACY, n. Commerce without its folly-swaddles, just as God made it.” Ambrose Bierce Good ol' Bierce and his Devil's Dictionary. Makes me look the right optimist, he does. Too bad he's dead; he could have been on the transition team. I was drinking sparkling cider last night and it is sticky sweeeeeeet! Gah, is it sweet! I couldn't get past my second glass. My non-dieting companions kept trying to get me to switch to alcohol. (Friends can be such a mixed blessing.) The new year has me listening to Classic Yes for some reason. It's like a bizarre balm - in fact it reminds me of Deadeye's ashram. "Move me on to any black square, Use me any time you want, Just remember that the goal is for us all to capture all we want"

Urg! All edited. If I dislike being chained to finishing the writing of these things, I absolutely despise editing my material. It's sort of ironic, because I've gotten pretty good at it. It is nice to go back and re-read it, though. You forget how much you've forgotten. Now I have to collect some photos...

Don't f--- with Butch! Bite your head off, man. You're a Dread Pirate skull! THAT is soooo hot.

Ah, the good old index. From their articles: "1. That all Plunder taken on board any Prize by either Ship, shall be equally divided between the Companies of both Ships, according to each Man's respective whole Shares, as shipp'd by the Owners, or their Orders." 2. That what is Plunder, shall be adjug'd by the superior Officers and Agents in both Ships. ... 5. Publick Books of Plunder are to be kept in each Ship, attested by Officers, and the Plunder to be apprais'd by the Officers chosen, and divided as soon as possible after the Capture. Every Person to be sworn and search'd, as soon as they come aboard, by such Persons as shall be appointed for the Purpose; the Person or Persons refusing, shall forfeit their Shares of Plunder, as above." (Cooke, p. 13-14) So it would appear that on this voyage 'Plunder' was something that was given to the men. However, I don't see anything about things reserved for the owners. The owners do get a large share of the 'profits', though. It seems to me that they got 2/3 and the crew got 1/3 of the profits. So perhaps plunder was considered an expense? The agreement between the owners and the men said, "3. If any Provisions, or Ships Materials, taken in any Prize, shall be wanting for the Use of the abovesaid two Ships [the Duke and Dutchess], one third Part of the Value of such Provisions and Materials so made use of, shall be paid for by the Owners to the Officers and Sea-men." (Cooke, Introduction) That doesn't help much, does it?

Ah, the book actually has an Index, so I found the quote I was thinking of when I answered a few minutes ago. "[April 13, 1709] ...A Committee being held, it was agreed, for the Encouragement of Officers and Men, That all Bedding and Cloaths, Gold Rings, Buttons and Buckels, Liquors and Provisions, for their own Expence and Use, with all Sorts of Arms, except great Guns for Ships, should be allow'd as Plunder, to be equally divided to every Man aboard, or ashore, according to his whole Shares. That all wrought Gold or Silver, Crucifixes, Watches, found about the Prisoners, or Wearing-Apparel of any Kind, should also be Plunder, excepting Money, Womens Ear-rings, loose Diamonds, Pearls, and precious Stones; and, in Case any thing was not sufficiently explain'd in this Order, a Committee should, after the Expedition, meet again, upon Application made to them, and determine what farther ought to be reputed Plunder, without Fraud to the Owners, or Prejudice to the Officers and Men. That no Person should misinterpret this Allowance, so __ as to secure or conceal either wrought or un-wrought Gold or Silver, Pearls, Jewels, Diamonds, or Precious Stones, not found about Prisoners, or their Wearing-Apparel, which should be look'd upon as a high Misdemeanour, and severely punish'd. That none should keep any Plunder, but deliver it to his Officer publickly, and carry it to the Place appointed to deposite it." (Cooke, p. 127-8) This is why I thought there was a qualitative difference between Plunder which the men divided and materials to be returned to England to the owners and investors. It is still not very clear to me. Note also that the quote I previously gave came later and so it supersedes this one.

I am a little fuzzy on the concept of Plunder as explained in this book. I have the feeling from something I read previously that there was a qualitative difference between things reserved for the ship's investors and that divided amongst the crew. As if by "Plunder" they mean things that will be divided up now and "not Plunder" they mean things that will be taken back to England. I am not sure of this interpretation, however.

[Rudolph]I'm cute! I'm CUTE![/Rudolph] Uh, I believe I was quite drunk in that picture. You guys are going to get the wrong idea about me... The truth is that I usually hate to have my picture taken, so many of the pics of me (outside of piracy stuff) are taken when I'm off guard. That thing about stealing your soul and everything. That particular one was taken at a Jaycee event at a Bar that features a boat crashing into the roof. I forget the name of the place. There's a story about it...that thing about my neck was given to me as a sort of joke. See there's these medallion awards in the Jaycees and another club president...oh, hell. It's not that funny and probably not even that interesting at this point. Let's just leave it at I like the pic and it's the only one on my web site with the blond streak. Fair enough? Duchess used to have some great pics in the gallery. She has crazy cool eyes.

Oh, BTW, I was at a Mary Kay thing (seriously, I was - ask me about that story when I'm good and drunk too) and the group agreed that I am a Winter. So there. You can kind of see my dyed blond streak in this photo. It's at the part in my hair. (Also note my groovy Lithuanian Basketball team T. I went to the Atlanta Olympics specifically to get that. Say, that's another good story.)

I already did. I just wanted to see what you'd do. Want it back?

That's because I've met Patrick! And he sold me his cool hat for $35 and a bottle of rum that I never gave him. Dead things? What dead things? Ask me to tell you the story about me, my sister and the dead brown bat sometime when I'm good and drunk.

I'll have you know that I used to have a shock of hair dyed as light as the hair dresser could make it. (I was actually copying something I had read in, of all placed, a James Bond novel.) So, nyah. Lookit Duchess' new avatar! That's soooo hot. Almost as hot as my Patrick Hand original hat. (She's gonna take it down now, you watch. )

What a great name. skullwench. I wonder what a skull wench would look like? Would she have a skull with long tresses? Like the cursed pirates in POTC? (That would be cool. Or, maybe as Stynky has corrected me in other discussions, it would be hot.) Perhaps she's just a wench with a skull motif? The mind boggles.

Happy Birthday, Bo! Now plan a trip to PiP!

This is sort of related to Michael's post and I thought some might find the material interesting. It's from Edward Cooke's account of Woodes Rogers' Fleet in the book A Voyage to the South Sea and Round the World in the Years 1708 to 1711: Friday, July 29, 1709. a general Committee was held Aboard the Duke for farther settling what should be Plunder, and agreed, that Gold Rings found in any Place, except in a Goldsmith's Shop, all Arms, Sea-Books and Instruments, Cloathing, and Moveables about Prisoners, be reputed Plunder, excepting Womens Ear-rings, unwrought Gold and Silver, loose Diamonds, Pearls, or Money. All Plate in the Use aboard Ships, but not ashore, unless about the Persons of Prisoners; all Manner of Cloaths ready made, found on the Upper Deck, and between Decks, belonging to the Ship's Company and Passengers, to be Plunder, excepting as above limited, and what is in the whole Bundles and Pieces, and not open'd in this Country, that appears not for the Person's Use who owns the Chests, and design'd for Merchandize, which not to be Plunder. Forty Roupies to be allowed James Stretton in India, as Smart-Money. To William Davis and Terrick Derrickson, 20 Roupies each on the same Account. To the Boats Crews that were engag'd with the Marquis [a prize ship] when taken, one Bail of Serges, one of Linnen, and two of Bays, to be sold when and where they shall think convenient. A good Suit of Cloaths to __ be made for each Man that went up the River above Guayaquil [A town in Ecuador they took]. These Things given over and above their Shares, as an Encouragement for having behav'd themselves well. Sunday, July 31. John Brigs, one of our Men, dy'd. [This is not related to the account of the plunder, but some sort of illness was caught by many men in Guayaquil. About 20 men eventually died from it.] Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2d and 3d of August 1709, divided our Plunder-Goods, on the 5th the Plunder-Plate, each Ship taking their Dividend Aboard, to be deliver'd when they came to India. The Men's Shares on Board the Duke of Cloaths, &c. when cast up, were --------- 403 The Dutchess's, --------------------------------- 330 The Marquis's ------------------------------------ 149 ____________________________ Total 882 The Remainder of the Men's Shares of Plunder, I had sent Aboard me in the Marquis, being our Dividend of the Plate, in all 36 Pounds Weight, amounting to 136 l. Sterling, the Duke and Dutchess having their Proportions, to be shar'd in India according to every Man's Share. There was also put Aboard the Duke and Dutchess a Box of Amber Neck-Laces, five Boxes and a Bag of Gold and Silver, a Quantity of Gold Rings, Tooth-Pickers, and Things of Value, not then shar'd. In each Bag of Gold 1 Pound 14 Ounces." (Cooke, p. 155-6) I must admit, I am quite curious what he means by "Smart-Money."

No problem shipmate! Has it actually arrived yet? Did it get there safely? It arrived. I put it with all the other unopened boxes of stuff from PiP. (That way everything is conveniently packaged so I can just send it back down next November. Come to think of it, I may as well have left all that stuff there and saved myself the postage...)

Thanks Fayma. Do you know if he has a web page for his stuff?