dasNdanger

yeah, that's what I was afraid of...dang. I know there are swordsman gloves - big-arse things that pirates would not wear. But I was wondering if they wore some sort of vibration/shock absorber, and when I saw that one on Jack, I though that - PERHAPS - it was an 'accurate' piece, considering the swordmaster's experience who taught the cast to fight. If there IS a term for it, I'd like to know what it is. Glove seems wrong, and 'palm protector' sounds like a prophylactic, or something... das

I can't think how to describe it, so I will use Jack Sparrow as an example - what is the fingerless protective thing he wore on his sword hand called?? Is that a common thing - and/or period? das

I have a Laguiole-style knife, with that little "bee" on the top of the blade spring on the back of the knife. But that knife, as I understand it, only dates back to the 19th century (though the style is much earlier, I believe). Here's a fella making reproduction knives (not cheap) based on French clasp knives found at Fort Michilimackinac... http://www.tichbourneknives.com/new.htm (go to bottom of page) Another site with 'historical' knives...but no authentic period examples to verify the styles: http://www.ragweedforge.com/HistoricalKnif...talog.html#paki The navaja, a Spanish clasp/folding knife also dates back to the 17th century. http://www.geocities.com/thalaric1/artncul.../sevillian.html http://www.antiques-arms.com/catalog/produ...products_id=445 das

LOL, Rumba perhaps! It just seems so unusual - I've never associated such an exercise or sport with sailors...it seems so out of place. Anywho...I suppose no one knows what these 'slippers' are?? Guess I'll have to do me own research...blech. das

First - I'm just testing to see if Foxe ever sleeps... Second, in my search for Frogs in Boots, I came across this little tidbit - and I have a few questions from it (quotes from various sources)... "Savate, translated the old shoe or boot, traces its origins as far back as the 17th century to the streets and seaports of France. As a form of exercise, French sailors practiced stretch-kicks during their long ocean voyages. These kicks were later incorporated into a form of foot fighting called “chausson,” which was used by Napoleons army as a form of punishment to miscreants." "This method was initially called 'Chausson', the name of a sailor's deck shoe, or slipper, although it was also known as jeu marseillais (sport Marseilles)." "It was the French Navy who developed Chausson (pronounced Shoh-sohn) as a gymnastic game of fencing with the feet. The term actually means 'slipper' and referred to the sailor's espadrilles. It became a local street game about Marseille, Aubagne and Toulon." "In 17th century France, two specific forms of street fighting evolved. Chausson Marseillais, as one style was named, depended almost exclusively on the power of kicking. The other style was called Savate, and it involved using a combination of open handed hits and low kicks." "Savate, translated the "Old Shoe" or "The Boot," traces its origins as far back as the 17th century to the streets and seaports of France. As a form of exercise, French sailors practiced stretch-kicks during their long ocean voyages." Okay - so here are my questions. 1. Is there any evidence that this style of exercise/fighting ever made it onto pirate vessels? Wow - if so, all that swashbuckling in film may have been for naught! LOL! Van Damme instead of Depp in the next pirate flick - what say you?? 2. Does anyone know the actual beginnings of this activity - most sources say the 17th century, but it wasn't fully developed until Napoleonic times. 3. Although it took well over a century to develop into a 'sport' with rules, etc...would these sailors' 'slippers' that became associated with the sport have been worn in the 17th century (powder slippers or something else??)?? Or were they more of a 19th century thing? das

I have an observation about boots based on the info I've been able to find. As has been said, during the GAoP it seems boots had fallen out of fashion in general, and were replaced by shoes. However, we are focusing primarily on English fashion. What about the French? I ask this because of a very silly little thing - Puss in Boots. Written by a Frenchman and published c. 1697, dear Puss is definitely sporting boots, and certainly not for riding. Why? Well, in a nutshell, the underlying theme of that story was that the clothes make the man. So, could the French have favored boots a bit longer, and if so, could that be why some artists later toyed with the idea of GAoP pirates in boots? This is all just guesswork, but it is curious to me that a Frenchman would have written a tale about a cat in boots if boots were totally out of fashion by that time. So - here's your mission, Petee, if you choose to accept it: see what you can come up with on Frenchie's in boots. Perhaps some were influenced by the army boot (from the Army museum) seen on this page http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/17THSHOE.HTM . If French naval officers happened fancy that boot, perhaps 'officers' (used loosely) aboard a pirate ship followed suit. OF COURSE, we have no proof in the form of documentation or art work...YET... das - just stirring the pot again

Oh, she's simply beautiful!! Thanks for sharing...let us know how she sails!! das

Well, I found Danger Island on e-bay, and now I sit here watching it, giggling like a silly kid again! It brings back such fond memories!! (The way it's filmed reminds me of Scrubs...maybe that's the reason I like that show so much, too.) Anywho - back to me show!! das

I suppose, like Foxe suggested, that some of his effects had been privately disposed of...but I would still think that a shaving/toilet kit would have been a rather significant thing to have go missing. (In comparison, the old silk drawers might not have been missed.) The idea that the bottles were for the rum - well, that might be...but in a small trading vessel, would they have tolerated that much space taken up by empty bottles? Any more thoughts on these bottles? das

Here's an old account, no mention of Neptune, though... Earliest Eyewitness Account by an English Sailor, 1708: Woodes Rogers, an English Privateer and later the Governor of the Bahamas. Sept. 25. This day, according to cuftom, we duck'd thofe that had never pafs'd the Tropick before. The manner of doing it was by a Rope thro a block from the Main-Yard, to hoift `em above half way up to the Yard, and let `em fall at once into the Water; havin ga Stick crofs thro their Legs, and well faftened to the Rope, that they might not be furpriz'd and let go their hold. This prov'd of great ufe to our frefh-water Sailors, to recover the Colour of their Skins, which were grown very black and nafty. Thofe that we duck'd after this manner three times, were about 60, and others that would not undergo it, chofe to pay half a Crown Fine; the Money to be levy'd and fpent at a publick Meeting of all the Ships Companys, when we return to England. The Dutch Men, and some English Men, defir'd to be duck'd, fome fix, others eight, ten, or twelve times, to have the better Title for being treated when they come home. Source: Rogers, Woodes. A Cruising Voyage Round the World: First to South-Sea, Thence to the East-Indies, and Homewards by the Cape of Good Hope. Begun in 1708, and Finish'd in 1711... (London: Printed for Andrew Bell, and Bernard Lintot, 1718): 23-24.. Is Neptune an American tradition, perhaps, for the next account reads: CAPT David Porter, USN, on United States frigate Essex, 23 Nov. 1812. On the 23d, we were honoured by a visit from the god of the ocean, accompanied by Amphitrite and a numerous retinue of imps, barbers, &c. &c. in his usual style of visiting, and in the course of the afternoon all the novices of the ship's company were initiated into his mysteries. Neptune, however, and most of his suite, paid their devotions so frequently to Bacchus, that before the ceremony of christening was half gone through, their godships were unable to stand; the business was therefore entrusted to the subordinate agents, who performed both the shaving and washing with as little regard to tenderness as his majesty would have done. On the whole, however, they got through the business with less disorder and more good humour than I expected; and although some were most unmercifully scraped, the only satisfaction sought was that of shaving others in their turn with new invented tortures. Here's the site I found these, and others: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq92-5.h...tm#anchor175935 das

I was being facetious. Ya know...how the Welsh are so crazy about rugby and all... *wonders where Foxe's funny bone is, so she can tickle it...* das

I love this calendar...and the website, too (mycathatesyou.com). I discovered their site about 4 years ago - it's just too funny! My hubby's fav so far is from Feb 11 - the one with the ferret on the back of the cat with the caption "I will massage your scalp while Chi-chi provides the 'happy ending.'" LOL - the expression on that ferret is just too funny! das

Uh...what are we talking about here...boots...or booty.... das

There should be a topical creme for that.... Well, if there is...the Brits prolly invented it... Hitman - I guess the US will always be at war with the Brits (and visa versa), over something. Two giant egos that love to torment each other, in that big brother/little brother sort of way. But let's face it - without the US, Britain would now be part of Germany, and without Britain, we wouldn't have marmite and Twiglets... All teasing (and food) aside, I guess there will always be a little niggling between these two countries. No harm in it, I figure...keeps us both humble... (HA!) (actually, as a rugby addict, I praise the English for inventing the best sport on the planet!! Wait a sec...was it the English...or the Welsh... Okay, I'll behave now... ) das

Thanks, Foxe. Very interesting inventory, indeed - actually had a lot more clothes than I expected someone to have at sea, considering the space available. What do you make of the bottles, though? Seems like a lot of bottles to have hanging around, even if they were small. Could they have been empty bottles? Again - seems odd to hoard a bunch of empty bottles, but if they were filled, it's strange for their contents not to be noted. What do you make of it...anything? das