Red Sea Trade

My first attempt at a period oilskin has been a mixed success. I am pretty sure it will keep me dry from outside, but it is still sticky and oozing red oxide. I have been baking it in the Florida sun for several weeks, but our insane humidity hasn't done me any favors. I probably would go heavier on the Japan drier next time, but I understand that can be very hard on the fabric as well.

Funny thing to realize that, when the American colonies began their fight for independence, St. Augustine was already more than two centuries old. Kind of puts in in perspective. There was a nice little commemoration ceremony of Pedro Menendez's landing last Saturday. He came ashore with high ceremony, kissed the cross, planted the Spanish flag and processed about with pomp and pageantry. This being Florida, of course, the ceremony concluded with a tropical monsoon, sending we poor musketeers running for safety. Ah well, better luck for the 445th!

A truly interesting show, and one that was a forerunner of all subsequent "reality" shows, was one done in Britain in the 1970's. It was filmed at Butser Hill Farm, a recreated Iron Age Celtic settlement. Like the current crop of reality shows, the producers collected a diverse group of people for the experiment. One difference, however, is that all participants were put through an "Iron Age Boot Camp", so that they would have at least basic necessary skills. They were expected to raise crops, slaughter livestock, keep bees, brew beer and do all the other daily tasks of their distant ancestors. The only way to get any supplemental foodstuffs was to trade with "another village" (portrayed by members of the production team), and then only if they had goods to trade. What was most fascinating is that, at the conclusion of the project, almost all of the participants expressed real sadness that they had to return to "real" life. Hmmm. What did they learn that subsequent reality experiments fail to capture?

The problem I had with the show--and with other, similar shows, is the lack of real consequences resulting from foolish actions. There was one woman who "wanted to do her own thing"--not attending church, being generally bitchy, etc. They had a word for such people in early 17th century New England--"corpse". Early Americans, far from being the rugged individualists we think of, were instead rugged communitarians. Social cohesion was absolutely vital to survival in an unforgiving environment. People who wanted to "do their own thing" were of no value to the community. Some, like the founders of Rhode Island, were pushed out of the community. Some, like Morton of Merry Mount, were imprisoned until they could be shipped back home. Some were executed as witches. If the producers wanted an even passing resemblance to reality, they should have given such individuals a choice: exile, imprisonment or "death". Any of the three would have resulted in removal from the show, and would have made for much better television.

Last year, confronted with a huge bag of VERY overripe peaches, I decided to put them to use quickly and with wonderful results. I peeled them, then rendered them into tiny bits in my wife's food processor. Into a giant stoneware crock they went, accompanied by a 1.75 liter bottle of brandy and a similar bottle of light rum. I then let them sit in a cool spot for three months, stirring occasionally and adding more booze as needed. In late October I strained the remains through cheesecloth. The brandy was superb, and the peach residue, slightly warmed with some spices added, became the dessert topping for the ages.

Here's one almost identical to mine, although I think the handle on mine is a whisker slimmer. This one is from Carter and Jasper.

I own the largest and the smallest, although I have a domed lid for the small one that isn't shown. I will have to dig around to see if I have any shots of the skillet.

The Caterham Super 7, the purest expression of automotive madness ever to raise insurance premiums and pulses. They have made them a bit softer than the original, which did not even offer a passenger seat as standard equipment. Still, it is little more than a skateboard with a big engine. Best of all, Patrick McGoohan drove one in "The Prisoner", so what 40-something year old geek doesn't want one?

Most of the personal sized cookgear that one typically sees for sale is conjectural at best. The ubiquitous "corn boiler" that one sees at everything from Renaissance Faires to Civil War reenactments is pretty dubious (although extremely convenient). For my own small-scale cooking, I carry a sheet-iron skillet with a wrought iron handle. It is vastly lighter than cast iron and fits well inside my snapsack. It can also double as an eating plate, which is handy. The handle is long, which makes it a bit unwieldy, but keeps me from scorching my hands. I also have a mid-sized, lidded tin kettle, larger than the corn-boilers but much smaller than the squad size camp kettle that I use for larger groups. Both my kettles came from Carl Giordano, and have provided many years of service.

The distinctive American method of eating began to develop, from what I have read, in the 17th century. The method I speak of is the odd, time-consuming method of: 1)Fork in left hand, knife in right hand. 2) Cut meat. 3) Put down fork and knife. 4) Switch hands. 5)Pick up food and eat. Nobody else on earth does it like that, and one historian has theorized that it came about when European cutlery and table manners began to evolve and Colonials were left behind. Americans essentially eat as if the fork had not been developed. I am left-handed, and so do not have to go through all those gymnastics. This allows me to shovel down my food twice as fast.

You might want to look at Carl Giordano's tinware. I have two of his tin kettles as well as his mess bowl, which has stood up to close to 10 years use and abuse. His stuff is light, correct, sturdy and affordable.

If you want a quick, easy way of cooking that also astounds the tourists, you can lay a steak directly on your coals to broil. Get a nice, hot bed of coals (use them before there is too much ash), rake them to a somewhat uniform consistency, then place your beef flat on the coals. Flip halfway through. It doesn't take long to cook this way, and people will be stunned at what you are doing. If you can stand more than the usual number of "Are you going to eat THAT?" questions, give it a try. No clean up, and all you have to do is give the meat a good scrape down each side to remove any clinging embers.

Ah, when discussing Greenport, I have to mention the mandatory stop at The Elbow Room on the way home, there to eat one of their legendary marinated steaks and a bottle of a local wine...Ah, bliss!

I decided not to compromise on my musket, and a healthy tax refund made possible a purchase normally outside my usual price range. I bought a Leonard Day musket advertised on Track of the Wolf. It is a thing of beauty, a circa 1670 Dutch doglock, and I have never seen anything like it at an event. Yes, it was very pricy, but there is a satisfaction that can't be beat. And now, being married, I will never have such a chance again!

My favorite dining spot in the world is Shields' Tavern at Colonial Williamsburg. Oh, to slip into the cool, dark basement there, especially on a sultry night, amidst the wine racks, and sip a Punch Royale! Then, if one is truly blessed, "Mr. Shields" himself will make an appearance to welcome his guests, and perhaps join your table to talk of news of the day... Magical!

My favorite punch, and one credibly reputed to date to as early as 1732, is Fish House Punch. Smooth, delicious and powerful... 3/4 lb. loaf sugar in a bowl, with just enough water over it to dissolve Add 1 quart lemon juice 2 quarts Jamaica rum 1 quart brandy 2 quarts water a wineglass of peach brandy Allow to mix and mellow for two hours, stirring regularly Apply as needed. It can be made in smaller quantities, but why?

It is ironic that, in all my years of pirate reenacting, I have never worn 18th century clothing. Being based near St. Augustine, Florida, I always end up in the attire of much earlier periods. It is always either Elizabethan sea dog (for Sir Francis Drake's Raid) or mid-17th century at latest. It has been a long educational process, getting the public used to seeing anything other than tricorn hats and frock coats.

In answer to your question about horn cups and hot liquids, I should clarify: I have two horn cups. One is simply pressed, shaped (unlined) horn, and it works fine with coffee so long as I don't let it sit too long. The other one is lined with brewer's pitch, and that one I reserve for cold drinks. Since I live in the Tropics, I am more likely to be drinking cold drinks than warm. I have also been known to use my wooden bowl for coffee, should I really need a hearty jolt.

Ah, this one's easy! I have done several 16th-17th century events which I approached with a trekking mindset (I am lazy and like to carry everything in one trip). Into my snapsack goes: Small wooden trencher Spoon Horn cup Spare stockings Woolen cap Food Tinder kit in oilskin bag Modern medicine/wallet 18-20' length of hemp rope Small copper cookpot Slung from my belt are: Hanger and scabbard Small sheath knife Leather pouch for pre-rolled ammunition (required at some Florida events), spare flints and musket tool Hung about my neck are: Leather water bottle Bandolier Carried in my hands are: Musket Oilskin and blanket (can also be lashed to snapsack if I am covering any distance)

There are some wonderful foreign films, especially if you can deal with subtitles: --The Return of Martin Guerre --Cyrano de Bergerac (the Gerard Depardieu version is my favorite) --Revenge of the Musketeers (with the luscious Sophie Marceau) --Queen Margot (with the EVEN MORE luscious Isabelle Adjani) And a few in English: --The Advocate (where else can you see a pig on trial for murder?) --The Harlot's Progress ( a recent British TV movie)

Not long ago, I changed locations for my place of work--same company, different office. A few weeks after I moved, one of the staff from the old location called. In his very prim, dignified voice, he said that a "Mr. Wobble" had been inquiring after me, and that he would see me in St. Augustine shortly. I had to explain that this pertained to my "other" life, but it was a rather amusing confluence of vocation and avocation.

The only other doglock pistols I have found are beautiful, frightfully expensive custom jobs. John Buck makes some beauties, as does Tattershall Arms. I also saw one by Leonard Day on trackofthewolf.com recently, but it was going for around $1300. I have one of the 1640 monstrosities you mentioned, but I can dream...

I made a quick and dirty one for a weekend event: large dropcloth (I washed and dried it to shrink it up a little), used the old "musket ball in each corner with a loop of rope around it" for staking it down and used some recently cut saplings for the uprights and ridgepole. It held up pretty well, and looked suitably like I had scavenged it from a shipwreck. Later, to make it a bit more weatherproof, I melted some beeswax, thinned it with soybean oil and painted the whole thing with it. I haven't had a chance to set it up since, so I can't yet tell if it was worth the extra effort.

I have taught History in museum settings for many years, so I have given this topic much thought. First, I like to ask everyone in a group if history is their favorite subject. Many of them groan, few respond in the affirmative. I tell them they are liars. Then I ask them what their favorite subject IS. Then I tell them that, no matter what that subject is called, it is history. Anything that has ever happened since the dawn of time is history, so therefore history MUST be their favorite subject, they just have to see the history of what they like. Whatever they love, whatever their passion, it is all woven into history. I also seek to involve as many senses as possible. Teaching about the American Revolution, I have lined entire classes up and put them through basic 18th century close-order drill. Teaching about tavern life, I have served them hot Johnnycakes from over an open fire. I have sung "The Downfall of Piracy" when talking about Blackbeard and passed Spanish reales around when speaking about shipwrecks off our coast. Let them see, hear, smell, taste and touch history. If possible, include a unit on archaeology, especially if the students get to participate in an actual dig. It is an outstanding way to connect them with the past. Most of all, I like to let students know that people of the past were real, live, breathing people. Tell a kid that George Washington was a huge, macho guy fond of women and sports and it lights a spark that the "Plaster Saint" of my own education never could. Without exaggeration, historical truth is almost always better--and more bizarre--than fiction.

This sort of crime is doubly disturbing because such cruelty to animals is often an indicator of much worse to come. Many serial killers claim that they got their starts using animals as their victims, them moved up to larger prey. Sick, evil and very, very dangerous.