Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
Thames and Hudson Ltd
London
1988
ISBN 0-500-27752-4
My friends and I are in agreement of this book from the start that the pictures are first rate especially of the caches found among the ruins of the temple. Archaeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma opens the book with his resume leading up to his appointment as head of the Great Temple Project in 1977.
The aim of the project was to excavate the precincts of the great temple of the Aztec's in the heart of Mexico city, Tenochtitlan as the Aztec's called the city. At the time Hernan Cortez saw the city in the lake the population of the city was about 250 000. When the Spaniard's conquered the city they destroyed the great pyramid and its precincts, erecting colonial buildings on top of the temple ruins.
The author begins with a description of Mexico city of today and in historical times, the rise of the Aztecs and the creation of the city. We are also told of early discoveries of important monuments of Tenochtitlan including the eighteenth century discovery of the great calendar stone.
Mr. Moctezuma is next on to the history of the Aztecs and the foundation of the city. The pictures of the jaguar with a jade ball in his mouth and of a "chacmool" statue are wonderful. The great temple is really a series of seven temples built over top of one another.
The temple has two staircases to the summit and at the top of each stand two shrines one is dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, a god who is represented by fetishes, a god of war and patron deity of the city. The other Tlaloc, god of water and fertility. Interesting picture of eight life size statues found near the base of the steps of the Huitzilopochtli shrine of the stage III temple.
Soon we start into the incredible images of the many caches found during excavations including a cache of forty two sacrificed children and hundreds of artifacts including beautifully made clay pots and masks carved in stone, animals and seashells, often only certain parts of the animals.
The author beaks down the material found into Aztec material and tribute material including antiques from the even more ancient site of Teotihuacan. Particularly of interest are the skull masks which incorporate human skulls inlaid with shells and hematite while a green stone mask in the Teotihuacan style with obsidian eyes is very life like.
The images in the book said from the start that it was going to be interesting while Eduardo Moctezuma's recounting of the history of the city, it's inhabitants and its great temple was inclusive for young adults and up. Such a complicated story was simply put forward with the skill and prestige possessed by it's author and excavator of "The Great Temple of the Aztecs".
Musee del Templo Mayor
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Vanished in Darkness: An Auschwitz Memoir
Eva Brewster
The following morning Daniella is taken to a field where she is forced to take off her clothes and stand in the snow to be executed by firing squad but is saved by her policeman contact in the resistance. Soon Daniella is on her way to a new prison in Ludwigshafen in which she recalls was a comfortable prison or better than what would come later.
As luck has it Daniella comes face to face with Freddy who has also been captured, and thanks to the kind warder allows them to spend a short time together after the Gestapo leave for the nights. Soon Daniella is joined in her cell by two school girls who take the prison and everything as a joke.
Daniella tells us "One day, therefor, the two girls and I were taken to the station and put on a prison train consisting of many carriages, with no windows other than small barred light shafts in the roof." We are than told of a journey passing through a number of different prisons before reaching Berlin.
In Berlin Daniella is freed to go find her mother but it is a trick and only a few blocks after freedom Daniella is again back in Gestapo hands. She is led to an office which contains a man dictating a letter to a "very glamorous secretary." Daniella describes the man as "tall, dark and handsome,". "His face seemed friendly and honest."
After the secretary leaves the man approaches Daniella and barks at her "Where is your child?", "He was towering over me know, his face revealing his true self.". The man precedes to beat her up blackening both eyes and knocking her out until he begins whipping her which bring Daniella to consciousness who screams "Oh, mother, help".
With this Daniella has reminded the man of her mother and she considers this a betrayal to her mother. The man makes now threats about what he is going to do to her mother. With more threats Daniella is removed from the mans presence and cared for by people she cannot see until she hears her mothers voice who has also been arrested, Daniella takes comfort in the belief that little Reha is safe somewhere in East Prussia.
On April 20th in honour of Hitlers birthday a large transport of young strong Jews were rounded up and deported including 500 boys and 500 girls of which none of the boys would survive. Daniella and her mother were also on the cattle cars along a number of young mothers with small children.
After days of travel the doors of the cattle car opened revealing only yellow mud with patches of poisoness grass while "Somebody whispered we were in Poland". Soon Daniella and her mother and the prisoners are standing at attention being judged by the infamous Dr.Mengele as to whether worker to the left or someone who needed rest to the right.
Those to the right were sent immediately to the gas chambers and those to the left were marched into the camp, the Authoress recalls the guards and german shepards, the sign over the camps entrance read "Arbiet Macht Frei ". Daniella and the ladies of her transport are marched into a room with a fire, behind the fire sat a man with a needle in the fire in which in turn each of the ladies are jabbed by the red hot needle.
When it became Daniella's turn "An SS man immediately twisted my arm back, almost dislocating my shoulder in the precess. I became number 51459." Once this has been done the ladies are corralled and ordered to take off their clothes and with that the SS guards advance on the women and tear off their dresses and all is removed in the presence of the leering guards.
The ladies are then taken back to their barrack where they meet the prisoner who will be in charge of the ladies and see their accommodation where they will sleep ten per cot. A rough first night is spent in darkness unable to move being repeatedly awakened by the screams of nightmares. Just before dawn the women are forced outside in the mud for the morning roll call. The rag covered women stand there for hours waiting to be counted while a few of the luckier ladies had died during the night.
The Barracks of the camp are laid out in rows surrounded by barbed wire and factories who's chimneys spew "An evil sickly-sweet smell" that covers the camp. A series of SS guards commit acts of savagery, mockery and murder upon the camps prisoners and soon the workers are herded into a shower room with only one working spigot, or letting the prisoners have showers and then turn off the water once the prisoners are lathered up.
Soon the ladies are assigned a work detail and are given uniforms and better rations though they are sent to do jobs that the SS expect only half to go back to barracks each night and guards are given bonuses for killing prisoners. As the defeat of Germany closes in we find the killing stepped up and supplies of gas running low so it is ordered that babies and small children will no longer be gassed but thrown right into the crematorium.
The book is an incredible journey of a descent into hell and the depravity of mankind but it is also a story of those who rose above the horrors to inspire survival of themselves and those around. The book is not long but puts into perspective the readers own problems against those experienced by Daniella and her mother.
"Vanished in Darkness" was an excellent read and a history which must remain told, if for nothing else so that such cruel history never repeats itself.
Newest Press
Edmonton
1986
ISBN 0-920897-06-1
On the opening page of the book we are given a rundown of its contents including the birth of Eva Brewster to a wealthy Jewish family in Berlin in 1922, her marriage at sixteen to Freddy Raphael was followed by the birth of their first daughter Reha. When Eva was just 20 in 1943 her family was sent to the concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau of which Eva is one of the few inmates to survive. The Authoress recounts her story in the only way she is able using the name Daniella Raphael, her resistance name and her first husbands last name.
The book begins with Daniella being moved around prisons in an attempt by the Gestapo to get her to talk of what she knows of the resistance. The Authoress remembers "My little Reha was only a baby when I was forced to work in a factory","Reha was the first child at the centre in the morning and the last to be collected at night. I remember her forlorn little figure, sitting half asleep in a tiny chair in the huge, deserted play-room,".
We are told of the conditions of life for a Jewish family living stripped of their wealth with their yellow stars, their bank accounts frozen. In Berlin in 1943 "Jews were no longer given scarce milk, butter,eggs or fruit."
Daniella talks about her mothers job at an emergency ward "My mother told me of many, many old people who attempted suicide. Often their attempts were unsuccessful and they were taken to hospital to be nursed back to health only to be arrested and sent to an unknown, terrifying destiny."
As the family heads underground and in separate directions as not to be captured by the Gestapo a plan is hatched to send Reha to east Prussia to be taken care of, and in the middle of a cold windy night Daniella hands off Reha to a stranger and in that moment is left haunted by the fact that she forgot to give Reha a kiss goodbye.
Daniella is forced into an underground life in the resistance and in February of 1943 while waiting for a midnight meeting with resistance member she is arrested by the Gestapo and taken back to the police station where she is interrogated, but also meets her contact in the resistance who happens to be a police officer.
As luck has it Daniella comes face to face with Freddy who has also been captured, and thanks to the kind warder allows them to spend a short time together after the Gestapo leave for the nights. Soon Daniella is joined in her cell by two school girls who take the prison and everything as a joke.
Daniella tells us "One day, therefor, the two girls and I were taken to the station and put on a prison train consisting of many carriages, with no windows other than small barred light shafts in the roof." We are than told of a journey passing through a number of different prisons before reaching Berlin.
In Berlin Daniella is freed to go find her mother but it is a trick and only a few blocks after freedom Daniella is again back in Gestapo hands. She is led to an office which contains a man dictating a letter to a "very glamorous secretary." Daniella describes the man as "tall, dark and handsome,". "His face seemed friendly and honest."
After the secretary leaves the man approaches Daniella and barks at her "Where is your child?", "He was towering over me know, his face revealing his true self.". The man precedes to beat her up blackening both eyes and knocking her out until he begins whipping her which bring Daniella to consciousness who screams "Oh, mother, help".
With this Daniella has reminded the man of her mother and she considers this a betrayal to her mother. The man makes now threats about what he is going to do to her mother. With more threats Daniella is removed from the mans presence and cared for by people she cannot see until she hears her mothers voice who has also been arrested, Daniella takes comfort in the belief that little Reha is safe somewhere in East Prussia.
On April 20th in honour of Hitlers birthday a large transport of young strong Jews were rounded up and deported including 500 boys and 500 girls of which none of the boys would survive. Daniella and her mother were also on the cattle cars along a number of young mothers with small children.
After days of travel the doors of the cattle car opened revealing only yellow mud with patches of poisoness grass while "Somebody whispered we were in Poland". Soon Daniella and her mother and the prisoners are standing at attention being judged by the infamous Dr.Mengele as to whether worker to the left or someone who needed rest to the right.
Those to the right were sent immediately to the gas chambers and those to the left were marched into the camp, the Authoress recalls the guards and german shepards, the sign over the camps entrance read "Arbiet Macht Frei ". Daniella and the ladies of her transport are marched into a room with a fire, behind the fire sat a man with a needle in the fire in which in turn each of the ladies are jabbed by the red hot needle.
When it became Daniella's turn "An SS man immediately twisted my arm back, almost dislocating my shoulder in the precess. I became number 51459." Once this has been done the ladies are corralled and ordered to take off their clothes and with that the SS guards advance on the women and tear off their dresses and all is removed in the presence of the leering guards.
The ladies are then taken back to their barrack where they meet the prisoner who will be in charge of the ladies and see their accommodation where they will sleep ten per cot. A rough first night is spent in darkness unable to move being repeatedly awakened by the screams of nightmares. Just before dawn the women are forced outside in the mud for the morning roll call. The rag covered women stand there for hours waiting to be counted while a few of the luckier ladies had died during the night.
The Barracks of the camp are laid out in rows surrounded by barbed wire and factories who's chimneys spew "An evil sickly-sweet smell" that covers the camp. A series of SS guards commit acts of savagery, mockery and murder upon the camps prisoners and soon the workers are herded into a shower room with only one working spigot, or letting the prisoners have showers and then turn off the water once the prisoners are lathered up.
Soon the ladies are assigned a work detail and are given uniforms and better rations though they are sent to do jobs that the SS expect only half to go back to barracks each night and guards are given bonuses for killing prisoners. As the defeat of Germany closes in we find the killing stepped up and supplies of gas running low so it is ordered that babies and small children will no longer be gassed but thrown right into the crematorium.
The book is an incredible journey of a descent into hell and the depravity of mankind but it is also a story of those who rose above the horrors to inspire survival of themselves and those around. The book is not long but puts into perspective the readers own problems against those experienced by Daniella and her mother.
"Vanished in Darkness" was an excellent read and a history which must remain told, if for nothing else so that such cruel history never repeats itself.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A Return of the King
Here from Brown University a report on their recent discovery of tomb in Guatemala dated to 350-400 b.c. and believed by Brown's archaeologist Stephen Houston to be the tomb of an early Mayan King.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Tomb of a King
A small tomb has been discovered in Guatemala beneath the El Diablo pyramid in the city of El Zotz. The tomb is about six feet high by twelve feet long and four feet wide and contains the remains of six children who may have been sacrifices, two of whom are represented only by skulls .
Archaeologists from Brown University have found the tomb to be from around 350-400 bc and may contain the remains of an early Mayan King. The site above the tomb was much venerated by the ancient Maya who built over it many times.
The tomb contains many beautiful objects of pottery, textiles and includes images of the ruler entering the tomb dressed as a ritual dancer. Archaeologist Stephen Houston says "When we opened the tomb, I poked my head in and there was still, a smell of putrification and a chill that went to my bones".
The archaeologist explains that they have only been in the field for a few weeks and that the material from the tomb will require years worth of study before anything is certain about the new discovery.
Archaeologists from Brown University have found the tomb to be from around 350-400 bc and may contain the remains of an early Mayan King. The site above the tomb was much venerated by the ancient Maya who built over it many times.
The tomb contains many beautiful objects of pottery, textiles and includes images of the ruler entering the tomb dressed as a ritual dancer. Archaeologist Stephen Houston says "When we opened the tomb, I poked my head in and there was still, a smell of putrification and a chill that went to my bones".
The archaeologist explains that they have only been in the field for a few weeks and that the material from the tomb will require years worth of study before anything is certain about the new discovery.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Canadian Pictures: Drawn with Pen and Pencil
The Marquis of Lorne, K.T.
The Religious Tract Society
London
1890
Canadian pictures is one of a series of travel books which include titles such as "The land of the Pharaohs" and "Indian pictures". The Marquis of Lorne, 1845-1914,was also the ninth Duke of Argyll and Canada's fourth Governor General 1878-1883.
This beautiful book opens with a wonderful full page etching from one of the Marquis' sketches of a "Road near New Westminster, British Columbia", The road is surrounded by massive cedar trees while a two horse carriage passes through. At the head of the contents page another of the Marquis' sketches of "The Rocky mountains from our camp on the Elbow river" is magnificent clearly the Marquis was a talent with pen and pencil.
A large fold out coloured map of Canada issued by the Minister of railways and canals (1882) is present as well as impressive. The map contains within it a small insert map of the routes to and from the British Isle's and North America.
Chapter one is titled "The Dominion of Canada" and the viewer is confronted by two more high quality images one of New Westminster, British Columbia but the more interesting image is the full page sketch of "Shad Fishing", The fisherman stand above a choppy shore on crudely made docks while holding long sticks with nets on the end.
The chapter is on the statistics of the Dominion beginning with Newfoundland and heading west including the make up of it's area, the habitable area, as well as resources, export and import revenues and governing bodies. The populations are broken down by religious denomination, this being either Protestant or Roman catholic with it being notable that at the time of writing the chapter in 1884 Ontario has some Jews.
The images are enchanting views of yesteryear including the "Indian hunting equipment" from the authors collection, so too is the etching of the oxen pulling a cart across the great bluff of the Thompson River. The next chapter "Relations between Canada and England" contains an image of a snow plough train, a most remarkable relic of ingenuity!
Of relations between Australia, Canada and the British Isles the author says "How foolish therefor, will our successors in England deem us to have been, if we do not meet to the fullest degree possible the wishes of these growing states!", "They will retain a brothers feeling for us, if we are friendly to them in the critical time of their coming manhood.". The author continues "Days may arrive when we shall implore their assistance, and when the alliance of those powers, grown into maturity and strength, and under very possible circumstances the strong arbiters of our own destinies, shall be ours through the wisdom we may show to-day, or may be lost to us, and become the property of our enemies, by the coldness of our conduct at this hour.".
Chapter three is on "The climate of Canada" and opens with a sweet picture of children tobogganing as well as an image of dog sled harnessed but at rest. The author lays down the costs of emigration to Canada from the British Isles and encourages women to go as far west as they can afford, as there is a shortage in the western provinces. The images of an Indian camp on the plains and British Columbia's Homathco river are wonderful and alluring views.
The Maritime Provinces are the subject of chapter four with an excellent picture of the town of Halifax. While collecting relics at Louisburg the Marquis finds the ruins of the old French fort built on behalf of Louis XIII. Of this fort the author says "There was, the remnant of an old sword, although green with age; there was even the breech piece of a small canon, and the barrel of a musket. Had these lain buried ever since the day that saw the arrival of General Wolfe".
The beautiful pictures keep coming as the Marquis ventures on to Canada's most populated province Ontario with the opening image being that of Niagara falls and another remarkable picture of "A beaver village". The provinces accommodations , industry, religion and environments are delved into including girls schools recommended highly by the author.
With chapter six we are introduced to Canada's largest French province, Quebec, with a nice image of Montmorenci falls which the author tells us that the falls freezes in winter creating a slide for the amusement of locals, the author tells us "Quebecois are heard with a sigh of regret to recall the days when the presence of a garrison of British regulars supplied numbers of young men who could devote their days to such amusements, and very gay were the parties whose members flew down the white slopes until evening came, and time was found for a dance and supper".
The author goes on to record the fate of a pair of French soldiers captured by the Iroquois in years gone by and after a night of beatings the two soldiers were expected to be burned at the stake the following morning but of which fortune spared, the author also mentions some talk about the custom of taking scalps . An old engraving of Champlain attacking an Iroquois fort is amazing!
Having said all that I have to admit the book is very statistically orientated with matters that would have concerned an emigrant of a hundred and twenty years ago but so many mentions on crop yields, that being bushels per acre, and I imagine many readers would not be going further or might confine themselves to the areas of their interest.
In chapter VII we are on a tour of Lake Huron to Winnipeg with an image of the town of Winnipeg surrounded by fields and Indian Teepee's and a covered wagon. The author discusses the enormous mineral potential including copper mines around Lake Superior. The author also discusses the mining of silver by an American consortium "It came up in moss like branches running through a white stone; it was found in blocks of grey ore, and in thick sheets of solid silver,".
With chapter VIII we find "The Indians of the North-west" and a wonderful sketch of "Blackfeet Indians crossing a river". The author presents an argument for the licensing act of 1883 which controlled the licensing of alcohol and says "If an argument derived from the effects of over-indulgence in stimulants can be derived from the conduct of white men under their influence, a far stronger proof of their bad consequence may be drawn from the ruin they work on the Red man." We are presented with a sketch titled "Ugly Customers" which portray four natives, three of whom are leaning on a counter in a general store and the author now tells about the Cree tribe and horse stealing.
Of complete fascination the author than goes on to tell us about Sitting Bull and General Custer with Sitting Bull saying "he sent a letter to me, telling me that if I did not go to an agency he would fight me; and I sent word back to him by his messenger that I did not want to fight, but only to be left alone.". After more messages of intimidation from Custer to Sitting Bull, Sitting bull relinquishes " 'All right; get your men mounted, and I will get all my men mounted; we will have a fight; the Great Spirit will look on, and the side that is in the wrong will be defeated. ".
Sitting Bull recounts "I believe Custer was killed in the first attack, as we found his body, or what all the Indians thought was Custer's body, about the place where the first attack was made. I do not think there is any truth in the report that he shot himself.". We are next told about Sitting Bull and his tribe taking refuge in Canada and the desire to deport the chief and his people back to United states as a prisoner of war.
A most horrible description of young warriors being deliberately tortured in order to prove their mettel is presented and a very difficult description to read let alone willingly participate.
The author talks about the early explorers and their meetings with the natives, Champlain described the treatment given one French captive, "They bade the poor man sing if he had the courage to do so, and the victim did manage to sing, but naturally enough, "it was a song which was sad to hear." He tells us "our friends lit a fire, and when it was well aflame, each took a brand and burnt the miserable creature by slow degrees, so as to make him suffer more torment." After many hours more torture by fire and scalping the party pours hot resin over the victims head and pierces his arms near his fists to draw forth his nerves, it is thankfully at this point that Champlain is able to convince the Indians to let him kill the half dead man.
The author goes on to tell us of less gruesome activities of the Indians. As the chapter closes we are presented with an image of "An Indian Burial on the Plains", the body wrapped and placed upon a platform of sticks high above the ground.
With chapter IX we are presented "The New Territories" and an etching of the Marquis' collection of native artifacts. Here the author deals with the western provinces including Saskatchewan, Athabasca and Alberta recalling about many of the first settlers and the productive value of these lands for farming as well as mineral exploration and the gold rush.
We are presented with a land of great opportunity for emigrants who the author lays out the costs to settle and build a farm as well as the expected bushels per acre. The image of "Fort Edmonton" is terrific.
The last chapter is on British Columbia and opens with a beautiful quaint sketch by the Marquis of a "View From Esquimault. ", though it must be said that the images of this chapter are some of the best including a view of an Indian suspension bridge and views of the Fraser River and an Indian salmon cache. The view of Indian graves with carved statues in front is also magnificent.
But of the China man the author says "There is no doubt that the presence of the Chinease in any number is only a temporary phenomenon. They remain strangers to the country they reside in." From hear we are informed of the beautiful properties of the land, the customs of its native populations.
The author talks about a 300 foot tall tree and its surroundings "All around this giant at Burrard Inlet were others nearly as large." We are told about the various explorers who investigated this shore and its value to the Dominion as the countries Pacific shore.
We are again presented with the assets of the land for pioneers including the husbandry of its animals. Finally we are told that at the time about 40 000 to 50 000 people emigrate to Canada each year. An appendix follows discussing the states of Government in development in the Dominion as well as the United States.
Canadian Pictures was thoroughly interesting in its images which almost if not all took me to another time and place though the authors descriptions were often more information than a casual reader needs but would have been incredibly use full to those considering emigration to Canada in the later part of the Victorian era.
The Religious Tract Society
London
1890
Canadian pictures is one of a series of travel books which include titles such as "The land of the Pharaohs" and "Indian pictures". The Marquis of Lorne, 1845-1914,was also the ninth Duke of Argyll and Canada's fourth Governor General 1878-1883.
This beautiful book opens with a wonderful full page etching from one of the Marquis' sketches of a "Road near New Westminster, British Columbia", The road is surrounded by massive cedar trees while a two horse carriage passes through. At the head of the contents page another of the Marquis' sketches of "The Rocky mountains from our camp on the Elbow river" is magnificent clearly the Marquis was a talent with pen and pencil.
A large fold out coloured map of Canada issued by the Minister of railways and canals (1882) is present as well as impressive. The map contains within it a small insert map of the routes to and from the British Isle's and North America.
Chapter one is titled "The Dominion of Canada" and the viewer is confronted by two more high quality images one of New Westminster, British Columbia but the more interesting image is the full page sketch of "Shad Fishing", The fisherman stand above a choppy shore on crudely made docks while holding long sticks with nets on the end.
The chapter is on the statistics of the Dominion beginning with Newfoundland and heading west including the make up of it's area, the habitable area, as well as resources, export and import revenues and governing bodies. The populations are broken down by religious denomination, this being either Protestant or Roman catholic with it being notable that at the time of writing the chapter in 1884 Ontario has some Jews.
The images are enchanting views of yesteryear including the "Indian hunting equipment" from the authors collection, so too is the etching of the oxen pulling a cart across the great bluff of the Thompson River. The next chapter "Relations between Canada and England" contains an image of a snow plough train, a most remarkable relic of ingenuity!
Of relations between Australia, Canada and the British Isles the author says "How foolish therefor, will our successors in England deem us to have been, if we do not meet to the fullest degree possible the wishes of these growing states!", "They will retain a brothers feeling for us, if we are friendly to them in the critical time of their coming manhood.". The author continues "Days may arrive when we shall implore their assistance, and when the alliance of those powers, grown into maturity and strength, and under very possible circumstances the strong arbiters of our own destinies, shall be ours through the wisdom we may show to-day, or may be lost to us, and become the property of our enemies, by the coldness of our conduct at this hour.".
Chapter three is on "The climate of Canada" and opens with a sweet picture of children tobogganing as well as an image of dog sled harnessed but at rest. The author lays down the costs of emigration to Canada from the British Isles and encourages women to go as far west as they can afford, as there is a shortage in the western provinces. The images of an Indian camp on the plains and British Columbia's Homathco river are wonderful and alluring views.
The Maritime Provinces are the subject of chapter four with an excellent picture of the town of Halifax. While collecting relics at Louisburg the Marquis finds the ruins of the old French fort built on behalf of Louis XIII. Of this fort the author says "There was, the remnant of an old sword, although green with age; there was even the breech piece of a small canon, and the barrel of a musket. Had these lain buried ever since the day that saw the arrival of General Wolfe".
The beautiful pictures keep coming as the Marquis ventures on to Canada's most populated province Ontario with the opening image being that of Niagara falls and another remarkable picture of "A beaver village". The provinces accommodations , industry, religion and environments are delved into including girls schools recommended highly by the author.
With chapter six we are introduced to Canada's largest French province, Quebec, with a nice image of Montmorenci falls which the author tells us that the falls freezes in winter creating a slide for the amusement of locals, the author tells us "Quebecois are heard with a sigh of regret to recall the days when the presence of a garrison of British regulars supplied numbers of young men who could devote their days to such amusements, and very gay were the parties whose members flew down the white slopes until evening came, and time was found for a dance and supper".
The author goes on to record the fate of a pair of French soldiers captured by the Iroquois in years gone by and after a night of beatings the two soldiers were expected to be burned at the stake the following morning but of which fortune spared, the author also mentions some talk about the custom of taking scalps . An old engraving of Champlain attacking an Iroquois fort is amazing!
Having said all that I have to admit the book is very statistically orientated with matters that would have concerned an emigrant of a hundred and twenty years ago but so many mentions on crop yields, that being bushels per acre, and I imagine many readers would not be going further or might confine themselves to the areas of their interest.
In chapter VII we are on a tour of Lake Huron to Winnipeg with an image of the town of Winnipeg surrounded by fields and Indian Teepee's and a covered wagon. The author discusses the enormous mineral potential including copper mines around Lake Superior. The author also discusses the mining of silver by an American consortium "It came up in moss like branches running through a white stone; it was found in blocks of grey ore, and in thick sheets of solid silver,".
With chapter VIII we find "The Indians of the North-west" and a wonderful sketch of "Blackfeet Indians crossing a river". The author presents an argument for the licensing act of 1883 which controlled the licensing of alcohol and says "If an argument derived from the effects of over-indulgence in stimulants can be derived from the conduct of white men under their influence, a far stronger proof of their bad consequence may be drawn from the ruin they work on the Red man." We are presented with a sketch titled "Ugly Customers" which portray four natives, three of whom are leaning on a counter in a general store and the author now tells about the Cree tribe and horse stealing.
Of complete fascination the author than goes on to tell us about Sitting Bull and General Custer with Sitting Bull saying "he sent a letter to me, telling me that if I did not go to an agency he would fight me; and I sent word back to him by his messenger that I did not want to fight, but only to be left alone.". After more messages of intimidation from Custer to Sitting Bull, Sitting bull relinquishes " 'All right; get your men mounted, and I will get all my men mounted; we will have a fight; the Great Spirit will look on, and the side that is in the wrong will be defeated. ".
Sitting Bull recounts "I believe Custer was killed in the first attack, as we found his body, or what all the Indians thought was Custer's body, about the place where the first attack was made. I do not think there is any truth in the report that he shot himself.". We are next told about Sitting Bull and his tribe taking refuge in Canada and the desire to deport the chief and his people back to United states as a prisoner of war.
A most horrible description of young warriors being deliberately tortured in order to prove their mettel is presented and a very difficult description to read let alone willingly participate.
The author talks about the early explorers and their meetings with the natives, Champlain described the treatment given one French captive, "They bade the poor man sing if he had the courage to do so, and the victim did manage to sing, but naturally enough, "it was a song which was sad to hear." He tells us "our friends lit a fire, and when it was well aflame, each took a brand and burnt the miserable creature by slow degrees, so as to make him suffer more torment." After many hours more torture by fire and scalping the party pours hot resin over the victims head and pierces his arms near his fists to draw forth his nerves, it is thankfully at this point that Champlain is able to convince the Indians to let him kill the half dead man.
The author goes on to tell us of less gruesome activities of the Indians. As the chapter closes we are presented with an image of "An Indian Burial on the Plains", the body wrapped and placed upon a platform of sticks high above the ground.
With chapter IX we are presented "The New Territories" and an etching of the Marquis' collection of native artifacts. Here the author deals with the western provinces including Saskatchewan, Athabasca and Alberta recalling about many of the first settlers and the productive value of these lands for farming as well as mineral exploration and the gold rush.
We are presented with a land of great opportunity for emigrants who the author lays out the costs to settle and build a farm as well as the expected bushels per acre. The image of "Fort Edmonton" is terrific.
The last chapter is on British Columbia and opens with a beautiful quaint sketch by the Marquis of a "View From Esquimault. ", though it must be said that the images of this chapter are some of the best including a view of an Indian suspension bridge and views of the Fraser River and an Indian salmon cache. The view of Indian graves with carved statues in front is also magnificent.
But of the China man the author says "There is no doubt that the presence of the Chinease in any number is only a temporary phenomenon. They remain strangers to the country they reside in." From hear we are informed of the beautiful properties of the land, the customs of its native populations.
The author talks about a 300 foot tall tree and its surroundings "All around this giant at Burrard Inlet were others nearly as large." We are told about the various explorers who investigated this shore and its value to the Dominion as the countries Pacific shore.
We are again presented with the assets of the land for pioneers including the husbandry of its animals. Finally we are told that at the time about 40 000 to 50 000 people emigrate to Canada each year. An appendix follows discussing the states of Government in development in the Dominion as well as the United States.
Canadian Pictures was thoroughly interesting in its images which almost if not all took me to another time and place though the authors descriptions were often more information than a casual reader needs but would have been incredibly use full to those considering emigration to Canada in the later part of the Victorian era.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Tomb of Genghis Khan
A project supported by National Geographic Digital media called "Field expedition: Mongolia-Valley of the Khans Project." is looking for help in locating the tomb of Genghis Khan with the release of satellite images to the public.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Franklin Expedition
One hundred and sixty five years ago two ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror set out to find the northwest passage through the arctic to find east. The expedition was headed by Sir John Franklin never to return taking its one hundred and twenty nine member crew into history.
Relics from that fatal 1845 journey have been turning up including human remains and mummies. The Inuit of the area tell of a terrible ending for the crews including stories of cannibalism.
Studies done on frozen mummies belonging to the Franklin expedition revealed that the bodies contained high levels of lead poisoning which is suspected to have come from the provisions canned supplies. In recent years Parks Canada has been exploring for other remains of the expedition including the two ships.
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