|
 Electric
Scotland's Weekly Email Newsletter
Dear
Friend
It's your
Electric Scotland newsletter meaning the weekend is nearly here :-)
You can view what's new this week on Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php and you
can unsubscribe to this newsletter by clicking on the link at the
foot of this newsletter. In the event the link is not clickable
simply copy and paste the link into your browser.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world and add your
own at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
New Statistical Account of Scotland
Poetry and Stories
Book of Scottish Story
The Concise Household Encyclopaedia
Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's
Stories
Social Life in Scotland
The Writings of John Muir
Home and Farm Food Preservation
Parish Life in the North of Scotland
Poenamo
Fraser's Scottish Annual
The Autobiography of Dr. Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk
Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend (New Book)
Highlander and his Books
Robert Burns Lives!
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
The University of Guelph is launching a "Certificate in Scottish
Studies" which is open to anyone anywhere :-)
Delivered through distance education, the six-course Certificate in
Scottish Studies is focused around the landscape, literature, and
history of Scotland and the legacy of Scottish migration on Canada’s
development.
By bringing together a number of Scottish and Scottish-related
courses, the Certificate offers a distinctive interdisciplinary
program of study. The Certificate in Scottish Studies comprises
courses that are offered to both undergraduate students and open
learners. To earn the Certificate, students will be required to
successfully complete six of the seven courses (3.0 credits) as
follows:
Required Courses:
NRS*2050DE The Landscape of Scotland
ENGL*3360DE Scottish Literary Cultures (under development)
HIST*2000DE The British Isles 1066-1603
HIST*3030DE Celtic Britain and Ireland to 1066
HIST*3530DE Celtic Britain and Ireland from 1603
One from:
HIST*3140DE Witch-hunts and Popular Culture
HIST*4050DE Topics in Scottish History
Students who wish to enrol in the Certificate in Scottish Studies
should contact the Open Learning program Counsellor:
Tel: 519-824-4120, ext. 56050
Email:
msmart@open.uoguelph.ca
Web:
http://www.open.uoguelph.ca/offerings/program.aspx?pid=80
-----
Got in information on a free event in Edinburgh for the first 200 to
apply!
I have organised a Free event called "Fare-thee-weel Night" for
Sunday 26th July at a venue in central Edinburgh. This will give
those attending the Gathering from all corners of the globe the
chance to get together one last time and to enjoy some Scottish
entertainment with a strong Burns theme. The full programme has yet
to be finalised but will include a short version of the Scottish
musical play, "Clarinda", about the love affair between Burns and
Nancy McLehose that inspired the poet to write "Ae Fond Kiss".
The venue will be laying on a BBQ (or Bard-B-Q as Geoff Crolley
suggested!) from 6 to 7.30pm and there will of course be a licensed
bar. The entertainment will run from 7.30 to 9.30pm leaving plenty
of time thereafter for a guid blether.
As I said admission is free but restricted to 200 places allocated
on a first come basis. If you are interested in attending email me
at info@hamepages.com with
detail of how many places you require.
-----
A new society has been formed...
SCOTTISH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN FORMS TO PRESERVE AND FURTHER
HERITAGE OF SCOTS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN
RoYAL OAK, MI – On Tartan Day, April 6th the announcement was made
that a new group, The Scottish American Society of Michigan, was
formed with the goal of preserving and furthering Scottish heritage
throughout the state of Michigan. The group, which registered as a
fraternal organization in March 2009, will hold meetings at The
Commonwealth Club of Michigan located at 30088 Dequindre Road in
Warren, Michigan.
The group plans to host various events throughout the year,
including a potluck, BBQ’s, educational events and Ceilidhs
featuring local pipe bands and dancers. People interested in the
group can find out more information and join the mailing list to get
updates by visiting www.michiganscots.com.
“We’re a group of people that share a common Scottish heritage that
likes to get together on a monthly basis to talk about all things
Scottish, share a meal, a toast and some laughs, and to hear the
great Highland pipes and other entertainment,” says the group’s
founder, Franklin Dohanyos. “One of our main missions will be to
help others and be active in the community. The Scots have a long,
proud history in Michigan and we will carry on that tradition. We’re
in the planning stages for our inaugural event sometime in the late
spring or early summer, perhaps a picnic or BBQ, or a fun afternoon
Ceilidh.”
For more information please visit
http://www.scotsofmichigan.com,
http://www.michiganscots.com
or send e-mail
scotsofmi@yahoo.com.
-----
I didn't get in any suggestions about books to work on for the site
so please don't be shy about letting me know your thoughts on this
:-)
I am currently considering two publications. The first is "The
History of the 48th Highlanders of Toronto". Not only does this book
give their history but it also gives some information on other
Canadian Highland Regiments in Canada. It's not a large book, some
150 pages, but I feel this is interesting enough to warrant a place
on the site.
The second is a 5 volume publication "Waifs and Strays of Celtic
Tradition". The reason for considering this publication is that it
is all taken from oral conversations with the people of the
Highlands and Islands relating old folklore. There were three
gentlemen involved in this work and all were Gaelic speakers. Over
many years they recorded the stories in Gaelic and then translated
them to English. In particular, Campbell, was thought to be very
gifted in the translation of the Gaelic words into English and could
give a better sense of the real flavour of the stories. It is often
said that Gaelic is an emotional language whereas English is a
technical language.
Another point noted was the reluctance of some people to recite a
story. This was partly due to the then ministers telling their
congregations not to listen to such "nonsense" and so the people
that knew the stories were very reluctant to recite them. We hear
for example of one man who knew many of the old folk stories being
scared away due to a visitor coming into the room. He then could not
be found and it was only later that we hear of him emigrating to
America and then dying there. Such a marvellous resource gone for
good and taking so much knowledge with him.
I will say that neither of these publications will be easy to ocr
onto the site but I feel the work will be worthwhile as both cover
areas not already on the site.
My concept has always been to give you a really good introduction to
a topic and having done that leave you to do further research on
your own.
I have also approached many people in Scotland to try and get a
story of the Scotland of Today but have failed to make any progress
on this.
-----
I attended the Scottish Studies AGM on the Saturday in Toronto where
I got made President of the Scottish Studies Society. This is the
commercial arm of the Scottish Studies Foundation. We could really
do with a couple of new directors willing to get involved so if
anyone would be interested in getting involved and can bring some
expertise to the table please contact me.
-----
And a wee nudge. While everything on the web is free these days I
often say that this doesn't mean you shouldn't say a word of thanks
to those providing free resources. It doesn't cost you anything
apart from a little time but to those that receive your email it
often means a lot. We do have regular contributors to the site so if
you enjoy their contributions a wee email to them would be well
received and perhaps make you feel a little good about yourselves as
well. This doesn't just apply to our site but all sites where you
visit on a regular basis.
I am constantly amazed how many emails I get asking for advice or
information and yet few people actually say thanks when you reply to
them with the information they are seeking. Anyway... just thought
I'd mention this to you in the hope you might try to do a little
better and it also applies to me as well. In fact it was me finding
some really useful information on a site and it only occurred to me
afterwards that I really should have dropped them a thank you email
which is why I'm mentioning this now :-)
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do
check out the site for the full versions. You can always find the
link in our "What's New" section at the link at the top of this
newsletter or on our site menu.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by Ian Goldie who has three main stories
in this issue. I will note that one of his articles is to do with
helping organise a visit to Scotland by French students. I only note
this as I was talking to a friend of mine recently who was going to
be staying in Edinburgh for 7 days and wanted to visit St. Andrews.
She had tried to figure out how to get to St. Andrews by bus and/or
train but was unable to find anything on the web to help her. So
should anyone know of a web site that can help people like her to
organise a trip within Scotland I'd love to hear from you.
In Peter's cultural section he gives us...
Many centuries of Scottish history are reflected in two traditional
events being held in the Kingdom of Fife this weekend.
In the Lang Toun of Kirkcaldy the annual Links Market, first held in
1304, is already in full fling over its six days on the esplanade.
The market started as a weekly market for traders, farmers,
craftsmen and such like but today is the longest street fun fair in
Europe and the largest in Scotland as it stretches along the
esplanade. During the six days of the market some 150,000 visitors
enjoy all the fun of the fair, albeit usually in poor weather! Many
generations of the same fairground families over the year have plied
their trade in Kirkcaldy, constantly updating and changing with the
times. As usual the market started on Wednesday (15 April) and runs
until Monday 20 April 2009.
Along the coast on Saturday (18 April 2009) some 500 years of
history will be celebrated in the town of St Andrews as large crowds
will watch the annual Kate Kennedy Procession. The procession,
originally to celebrate the pagan Spring Rites, was condemned in
1432 by the university authorities as “useless, unprofitable,
dangerous and damnable”. It was finally banned in 1881 because of
drunken rowdiness. However in 1926 two students Donald Kennedy and
James Doak, inspired by JM Barrie’s Rectorial Address on ‘Courage’
and with the assistance of Principal Sir James Irvine revived the
Kate Kennedy Spring Procession. The all-male Kate Kennedy Club was
set up to organise the procession and raise monies for charitable
causes. The procession honours Kate Kennedy, the beautiful niece of
Bishop Walter Kennedy founder of the university. The procession is
led by St Andrew and behind him comes a carriage containing Bishop
Kennedy and his niece (played by a first year male student) followed
by students dressed as historical characters connected with St
Andrews. Where else will you see characters such as Mary Queen of
Scots, John Knox, Robert I and Andrew Carnegie? A new character this
year is USA politician and founder-father Benjamin Franklin . He
enjoyed his visits to St Andrews and received an honorary Doctor of
Laws Degree and the Freedom of the Burgh in 1759.
As an all-male club, the Kate Kennedy Club is, as in 1881, at odds
with the university and the new St Andrews Principal Dr Louise
Richardson has withdrawn official recognition of the club. Perhaps
this will finally lead to the ending of another male bastion and
herald the day when a female plays Kate Kennedy. However Dr
Richardson did praise the club’s charitable fundraising and the
tradition of the procession. The Kate Kennedy Procession is
certainly well-worth a visit as the large crowd every year
testifies.
We celebrate Kate Kennedy’s Procession with the appropriately named
Kate’s Bread and Butter Pudding which is also just the ticket to
heat you up during the usual cold, wet and windy weather associated
with the Links Market!
Kate’s Bread and Butter Pudding
Ingredients: 10 - 14 slices wholemeal bread; Butter for greasing and
buttering; Marmalade, home-made if possible; Small handful sultanas;
3 - 4 dried figs, chopped; Approx 75g muscovado sugar; 2 teaspoons
ground cinnamon; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 4 teaspoons freshly
grated nutmeg; 4 eggs; 500ml double or extra thick cream (if using
extra thick cream, some double cream may also be required to loosen
the mix a little)
Method: Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and butter a 2 pint shallow
baking dish. Remove the crusts from each slice of bread, butter both
sides, spread one side with marmalade and cut in half. Arrange one
layer of bread in the dish, marmalade side up. Sprinkle in the fruit
and cover with the remaining bread. Insert a few pinches of
muscavodo sugar between the layers. Dust the pudding with the
cinnamon and ginger and half the nutmeg. Beat the eggs and add to
the cream, lightly whisk with a fork before pouring over the
pudding. Allow the cream to soak in before topping up. Sprinkle with
the remaining nutmeg and a little extra sugar. Bake for 30 - 40
minutes until golden on top and cooked through. Serve warm straight
from the oven. Serves 6
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots
Wit and lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
Christina McKelvie MSP's Weekly diary didn't arrive this week.
Poetry and Stories
------------------
John sent in two poems this week...
"Fit Wye Tae Ging?" and "Gretna Green" which you can get to at the
foot of his index page at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
And of course more articles in our Article Service from Donna and
others at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article
I might add that I regularly add articles about Scottish news to
this service and Donna adds some good stories each week. You can of
course add your own articles to this service and they need not be
about Scotland.
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
Our thanks to John Henderson for sending this in for us.
This week have added a new story...
Helen Waters: a Tale of the Orkneys and here is how it starts...
The mountains of Hoy, the highest of the Orkney Islands, rise
abruptly out of the ocean to an elevation of fifteen hundred feet,
and terminate on one side in a cliff, sheer and stupendous, as if
the mountain had been cut down through the middle, and the severed
portion of it' buried in the sea. Immediately on the landward side
of this precipice lies a soft green valley, embosomed among huge
black cliffs, where the sound of the human voice, or the report of a
gun, is reverberated among the rocks, where it gradually dies away
into faint and fainter echoes.
The hills are intersected by deep and dreary glens, where the hum of
the world is never heard, and the only voices of life are the bleat
of the lamb and the shriek of the eagle ;—-even the sounds of
inanimate nature are of the most doleful kind; The breeze watts not
on its wings the whisper of the woodland ; for there are no trees in
the island, and the roar of the torrent-stream and the sea’s eternal
moan for ever sadden these solitudes of the world.
The ascent of the mountains is in some parts almost perpendicular,
and in all exceedingly steep; but the admirer of nature in her
grandest and most striking aspects will be amply compensated for his
toil, upon reaching their summits, by the magnificent prospect which
they afford. Towards the north and east, the vast expanse of ocean,
and the islands, with their dark heath-clad hills, their green
vales, and gigantic cliffs, expand below as far as the eye can
reach. The view towards the south is bounded by the lofty mountains
of Scarabin and Morven, and by the wild hills of Strathnaver and
Cape Wrath, stretching towards the west. In the direction of the
latter, and far away in mid-ocean, may be seen, during clear
weather, a barren rock, called Sule Skerry, which superstition in
former days had peopled with mermaids and monsters of the deep. This
solitary spot had been long known to the Orcadians as the haunt of
seafowl and seals, and was the scene of their frequent shooting
excursions, though such perilous adventures have been long since
abandoned. It is associated in my mind with a wild tale, which I
have heard in my youth, though I am uncertain whether or not the
circumstances which it narrates are yet in the memory of living men.
The rest of this story can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story83.htm
The other stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
The Concise Household Encyclopaedia
-----------------------------------
Added another four pages including Cosmetic, Cosmos, Cots, Cotillon,
Cotoneaster, Cottage, Cottage Pie, Cotter, Cotton, Cotton Thistle,
Cotton Wool, Couch, Couch Grass, Cough.
You can read about these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/c.htm
Children's Rhymes. Children's Games, Children' s Songs, Children's
Stories
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Book for Bairns and Big Folk by Robert Ford (1904).
The pages we have up this week are the final stories which now
completes this book.
Children's Stories
Beauty and the Beast
The Sleeping Beauty
These are all fairly substantial stories which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/bairns/index.htm
Social Life in Scotland
-----------------------
From Early to Recent Times by Rev. Charles Rogers in 3 volumes
(1884)
Have now started the third and final volume of this publication
with...
Chapter XVI.
Literary and Scholastic
Here is how it starts...
WHEN in the eightieth year of the Christian era the Romans
penetrated into that part of the island now called Scotland, they
found the natives not unacquainted with letters and the arts of
life. And it is considerably uncertain whether the Roman occupation,
which continued 350 years, tended to promote popular culture, or to
advance among the natives the course of civilisation. As the
imperialists desired the suppression of those warlike tribes who
offered them resistance, it is probable that any real culture which
accrued to the inhabitants while they occupied the country, was
chiefly due to the passionate earnestness of the native bards.
Not many years after the Romans had withdrawn, other races effected
settlements on the northern, eastern, and western shores. These
settlers were members of that great northern people who from the
Danube and the Euxine had migrated to the shores of the Baltic. In
their train followed the Dalriad Scots, who first landing on the
Irish coast of Antrim, next rested at Kintyre. Attracting the Celtic
inhabitants by their woollen garments, they were by them styled
Sgeucluich or Scots, an appellative which after the lapse of
centuries came to designate the general population. Not unfamiliar
with Christian doctrine, the Sgeucluich gave a welcome to St Columba,
assigning him, in 563, a congenial home in the island of Iona. By St
Columba were reduced into a system the fragments of knowledge
associated with Pagan worship. The earlier Christian scholars were
ministers of religion.
In cultivating secular learning, Christian teachers ignored the
aesthetic,—for fiction had engendered superstition, and fancy had
created the gods. Eschewing the imaginary, they allowed history,
defaced by legend, to perish with it; that portion only being
retained which invigorated the energies and stimulated prowess. And
hence survived the snatches of Fingalian verse. The poems and hymns
ascribed to St Columba evince no inconsiderable vivacity, but are
strictly of a devotional character, with a special reference to his
personal surroundings. Literary activity awakened in the sixth
century, was in the seventh advanced by Adamnan in his life of the
western apostle. Then and subsequently missionaries from Iona,
proceeded everywhere, to ultimately settle in retreats associated
with the elder superstition, and where with Christian sentiment and
the lore of learning, they imbued undisciplined and warlike chiefs.
From lona moved into Northumberland the venerable Aidan, who, fixing
his seat in the Isle of Lindisfarne, there in the princely Oswald
secured an intelligent interpreter. Constructing a monastery at
Melrose, Aidan therefrom, in 651, sent forth St Cuthbert, through
whose ardour and eloquence Lothian peasants acquired a. moderate
culture and learned to pray. The clerical element continued to
obtain influence and force. Bede, who died in the year 735, relates
that in the island the gospel was preached in the languages of the
Angles, Britons, Scots, Picts, and Latins. Of these languages Latin
was common to all lettered Churchmen. By the Angles was used a kind
of Low German, which resembled the Frisian, and by the Britons the
language now spoken in Wales, while the Scots and Picts spoke
dialects of the Irish, which, like the British, was cognate to the
same Celtic original. When under Kenneth Macalpin, in 844, the Scots
and Picts amalgamated in a new nationality, Saxon was slowly
introduced. In Saxonia, proper, or Lothian, next in Galloway, and
latterly in the territory to the north of the Forth and Clyde, the
Anglo-Saxon language took root, spread, and latterly made rapid
progress.
You can read lots more from this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sociallife/chapter16.htm
You can get to the index page of the book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sociallife/index.htm
The Writings of John Muir
-------------------------
Continuing with Volume 3, Travels in Alaska with...
PART I. The Trip of 1879
Chapter V. A Cruise in the Cassiar
Chapter VI. The Cassiar Trail
Chapter VII. Glenora Peak
Chapter VIII. Exploration of the Stickeen Glaciers
Chapter IX. A Canoe Voyage to Northward
Chapter X. The Discovery of Glacier Bay
Chapter XI. The Country of the Chilcats
Here is how Chapter XI starts...
ON October 30 we visited a camp of Hoonas at the mouth of a
salmon-chuck. We had seen some of them before, and they received us
kindly. Here we learned that peace reigned in Chilcat. The reports
that we had previously heard were, as usual in such cases, wildly
exaggerated. The little camp hut of these Indians was crowded with
the food-supplies they had gathered — chiefly salmon, dried and tied
in bunches of convenient size for handling and transporting to their
villages, bags of salmon-roe, boxes of fish-oil, a lot of
mountain-goat mutton, and a few porcupines. They presented us with
some dried salmon and potatoes, for which we gave them tobacco and
rice. About 3 we reached their village, and in the best house, that
of a chief, we found the family busily engaged in making whiskey.
The still and mash were speedily removed and hidden away with
apparent shame as soon as we came in sight. When we entered and
passed the regular greetings, the usual apologies as to being unable
to furnish Boston food for us and inquiries whether we could eat
Indian food were gravely made. Toward six or seven o'clock Mr. Young
explained the object of his visit and held a short service. The
chief replied with grave deliberation, saying that he would be
heartily glad to have a teacher sent to his poor ignorant people,
upon whom he now hoped the light of a better day was beginning to
break. Hereafter he would gladly do whatever the white teachers told
him to do and would have no will of his own. This under the whiskey
circumstances seemed too good to be quite true. He thanked us over
and over again for coming so far to see him, and complained that
Port Simpson Indians, sent out on a missionary tour by Mr. Crosby,
after making a good-luck board for him and nailing it over his door,
now wanted to take it away. Mr. Young promised to make him a new
one, should this threat be executed, and remarked that since he had
offered to do his bidding he hoped he would make no more whiskey. To
this the chief replied with fresh complaints concerning the
threatened loss of his precious board, saying that he thought the
Port Simpson Indians were very mean in seeking to take it away, but
that now he would tell them to take it as soon as they liked for he
was going to get a better one at Wrangell. But no effort of the
missionary could bring him to notice or discuss the whiskey
business. The luck board nailed over the door was about two feet
long and had the following inscription: "The Lord will bless those
who do his will. When you rise in the morning, and when you retire
at night, give him thanks. Heccla Hockla Popla."
This chief promised to pray like a white man every morning, and to
bury the dead as the whites do. "I often wondered," he said, "where
the dead went to. Now I am glad to know"; and at last acknowledged
the whiskey, saying he was sorry to have been caught making the bad
stuff. The behavior of all, even the little ones circled around the
fire, was very good. There was no laughter when the strange singing
commenced. They only gazed like curious, intelligent animals. A
little daughter of the chief with the glow of the firelight on her
eyes made an interesting picture, head held aslant. Another in the
group, with upturned eyes, seeming to half understand the strange
words about God, might have passed for one of Raphael's angels.
The chief's house was about forty feet square, of the ordinary fort
kind, but better built and cleaner than usual. The side-room doors
were neatly paneled, though all the lumber had been nibbled into
shape with a small, narrow Indian adze. We had our tent pitched on a
grassy spot near the beach, being afraid of wee beasties; which
greatly offended Kadachan and old Toyatte, who said, "If this is the
way you are to do up at Chilcat, we will be ashamed of you." We
promised them to eat Indian food and in every way behave like good
Chilcats.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/muir/vol3_chapter11.htm
The rest of the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/muir/index.htm
Home and Farm Food Preservation
-------------------------------
By William V. Cruess (1918)
Have added several more chapters to this book...
Chapter XXVIII - Recipes for Drying Fruits
75. Sun Drying Apricots, Pears, Peaches, and Apples
76. Sun Drying Prunes
77. Drying Thompson Seedless and Sultana Grapes
78. Drying Muscat and "Currant" Grapes
79. Packing Raisins
80. Sun Drying Cherries
81. Sun Drying Figs
82. Drying Fruits in Evaporators
(a) Driers
(b) Preparation of Fruit
(c) Apples
(d) Apricots and Peaches
(e) Berries
(f) Cherries
(g) Pears
(h) Prunes
(i) Grapes
(j) Figs
(k) Processing and Storing
Chapter XXIX - Recipes for Drying Vegetables
83. Sun Drying String Beans and Peas
84. Sun Drying Corn
85. Sun Drying Irish Potatoes
86. Sun Drying Sweet Potatoes
87. Sun Drying Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Cabbage, and Cauliflower
88. Sun Drying Beets, Pumpkin, and Squash
89. Sun Drying Tomatoes
90. Sun Drying Peppers
91. Drying Vegetables in an Artificial Evaporator
Chapter XXX - Recipes for Vinegar Making
92. Home Manufacture of Vinegar from Whole Fruits
93. Vinegar from Cores, Peels, and Fruit Scraps
94. Vinegar from Honey and Sirups
95. Clarifying Vinegar
Chapter XXXI - Recipes for Fruit Wines
96. Red Wine
97. White Wine
98. Hard Cider from Apples, Oranges, and other Fruits
Chapter XXXII - Recipes for Preservation of Vegetables by Salt or
Fermentation
99. Preservation of Vegetables by Dry Salt
100. Preservation of Vegetables in Strong Brine
101. Preservation of Cabbage by Fermentation (Sauerkraut)
102. Preservation of String Beans, Beets, and Greens by Fermentation
103. Preservation of Vegetables by Fermentation in Brine
104. Dill Pickles
Chapter XXXIII - Recipes for Pickles and Relishes
105. Cucumber Pickles in Vinegar
106. Onion, Green Tomato, and Cauliflower Pickles in Vinegar
107. Sweet Vegetable Pickles
108. Sweet Fruit Pickles
109. Sweet Pickled Watermelon Rind
110. Spiced Green Tomatoes
111. Chow Chow
112. Mustard Pickles
113. Piccalilli
114. Chili Sauce
115. Dixie Relish
116. Chutney
117. Stuffed Pickled Sweet Peppers
118. Green Tomato Pickle
119. Tomato Ketchup
120. Tomato Paste
121. Ripe Olive Pickles
122. Green Olive Pickles
123. Ripe Olive Paste
124. Ripe Olives Cured by the Salt Process
125. Dessicated Olives
Chapter XXXIV - Recipes for the Home Preservation of Meats and Eggs
126. Plain Salt Pork
127. Corned Beef
128. Sugar Curing Hams and Bacon for Smoking
129. Dry Curing of Pork for Smoking
130. Salting Beef for Drying
131. Preservation of Fish by Salting
132. Home Made Smoke House
133. Fuel for Smoking
134. Ham and Bacon
135. Dried Smoked Beef
136. Smoking Large Fish
137. Smoking Small Fish
138. Drying Fish
139. Dried Beef and Venison ("Jerkey")
140. Preservation of Eggs in Water Glass
141. Preservation of Eggs in Lime and Salt
All the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/food/preservation/index.htm
Poenamo
-------
Sketches of the early days of New Zealand, Romance and Reality of
Antipodean life in the infancy of a New Colony by John Logan
Campbell (1881)
We now have up several more chapters...
BOOK THE THIRD.
WITH THE MAORIES ON TE HAURAKI SHORE.
Chapter VI.
A Gunpowder Explosion.—The Doctor Wanted
Chapter VII.
Steeped in Tapu
Chapter VIII.
Maori Philosophy
Chapter IX.
Farewell to Waiomu
BOOK THE FOURTH.
HOW A NEW COLONY IS BORN TO AN OLD NATION.
Chapter I.
The Two Pioneer Pakehas of the Waitemata
Chapter II.
Monarchs of all they Surveyed.—The Monarchs Turn Well-Sinkers
Chapter III.
I Present our Credentials to the Ngatitais.—The Early Missionary
Here is how Chapter III starts...
I had no misgivings in leaving my brother-Pioneer alone on the
island; he would be just as safe there in his solitary glory with
Tartar as I should be all alone in the midst of the strange tribe to
whom I was bound. He had no more firearms than I had, but he
certainly had a large stock of ammunition with which he could fight
any number of natives likely to come his way. I too had armed myself
with like munitions, my cartouch-box being filled with tobacco
cartridges.
With half a fig of tobacco any native appearing on the scene of
action could be shot off (if not finally disposed of) at all events
until that shot from that locker was smoked out, when perhaps a
return of the tobacco fight might come off—a fight of words only.
On the evening of the same afternoon that I left the island I was
landed at the other end of the inlet at my place of destination,
Oinapuhia, by Rama, and he proceeded home to Waiou.
My letter of credentials from Kanini to Te Tara, head chief of the
Ngatitais, was received by him with every sign of high respect for
the quarter from which it proceeded, and I was immediately made much
of.
Te Tara appointed his own wife—he had only one, having been
converted from his ways of polygamy —to be my handmaiden and attend
upon me. The handmaiden being a rather ancient party, and mother of
a grown and growing-up family, I was safe from falling an untimely
victim to her charms.
The largest whare in the village was swept and garnished—with clean
fern—for me. No one had to vacate the premises, for it was the
meeting-house which had arisen when Te Tara forswore his extra wives
and turned "meetinary," was converted from his heathen ways, and
took to psalm-singing at the solicitation of his reverend converter.
During my sojourn, however, at Omapuhia, this big whare became
occupied by all the personages of importance, male and female,
irrespective of age, of the tribe, to do their smoking and gossiping
korero-ing, not a few making it their sleeping quarters as well.
The nice clean fern covered the earthen floor; then a new clean mat
was spread upon it for me, and a good many not nice clean ones were
also spread either side of mine, which told me I was not going to be
without company.
By the time these preparations were made I had heard my letter of
introduction read a dozen times, for every new-corner who kept
dropping in from the kumera plantations had the benefit of the
composition.
Such a great arrival, a live Rangatera Pakeha bringing such a
letter, did not happen every day at Ornapuhia; no, indeed! this was
the first occasion of the kind, so little wonder the most was made
of it.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/poenamo/book4-chapter3.htm
You can read the rest of the chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/poenamo/index.htm
Fraser's Scottish Annual
------------------------
These are articles from the 1900 - 1904 issues of Fraser's Scottish
Annual.
Ah Yum's Diplomacy
The Logic of Scottish Humour
Mary: A Romance of the Transvaal
Scotchmen and Life Assurance
The Oldest Colony
The British Races in Canada
The Dramatic Element in Burns
The Logic of Scottish Humour
"TICKETS, Tickets,- tickets please." This from the guard on a local
train approaching Edinburgh, as he addressed the obfuscated members
of a brass band returning from an engagement in an adjoining
clachan. ir "Od, man!" said the pounder of parchment as he fumbled
vainly in his vest pooch, ''I've lost ma ticket." ''That's
nonsense," replied the guard, "You couldna lose your ticket." "Could
I no?" said the other with a sneer, "Man, I lost the big drum,"
which was a fact! Mr. Steuart Ross, who tells the story in his book,
regards this as an exemplification of the statement that a Scotsman
is above all things logical-drunk or sober, but especially drunk.
Without going quite so far there can be no doubt respecting the
truth of the proposition in a general way, and it is owing to this
quality that we are twitted so often anent the necessity of a
"surgical operation." M. Paul Blouet (Max O'Rell) has assured the
writer that for keen appreciation of his points, he would prefer an
audience of Scottish crofters or fishermen to one of Oxford or of
Cambridge dons, and as this gentleman (for a wonder) does not claim
to be in any measure Scots, and is not of sufficient importance for
us to claim that he is, his evidence may be regarded as totally
unbiased, Whether the logical quality be connected with climate,
historic and domestic experiences, porridge, kail, haggis, the
flavor of peat reek, or the shorter catechism, or all of these,
there can be no doubt as to its existence.
Here and there you will find a Scot who appreciates a pun or some
other play on words, but it is an acquired sense. Even when stern
necessity drives him to perpetrate such a verbal crime it is the
logic of circumstances that appeals to his mind, not merely the
sound similarity, or the double entendre. When Captain Villiers
Beauchamp, exercising his regimental horse in very awkward fashion,
observed Airchie Drummock on the other side of a yett with a square
foot of smiles under his bonnet, inquired angrily as he brought the
animal to its haunches, "What are you laughing at me for, sir? Did
you never see a war-horse before?" Airchie, without a motion except
that of his lips, replied, ''Oo ay, I've often seen a war-horse
afore, but gin ye wad allow me to mak' a remark, I wad juist like to
say I dinna think I e'er saw a waur rider." It was the bald fact
that appealed to Airchie's eye, and he used the sameness of sound
merely to aid him in making his point. He would have been affronted
had he been charged with punning.
The rest of this article can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/annual/article14.htm
The other articles can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/annual/
The Autobiography of Dr. Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk (1722 - 1805)
------------------------------------------------------
It is said that this is one of the top 5 books to read if you wish
to understand more about Scottish Life.
We now have up...
Chapter I
His birth —His father and the family—Precocious ministerings—Prestonpans
and its social circle—Colonel Charteris—Erskine of Grange—Lady
Grange and her adventures—Colonel Gardiner—The Murray Keith tour to
Dumfries—The social habits of the borderers—Hanging of a border
thief—Goes to the University of Edinburgh--His teachers and
companions—Dr. Witherspoon of New York—Sir John Dalrymple—M'Laurin
the mathematician.
Chapter II
Events of the Porteous mob—Sees the escape of Robertson from
church—Present at the execution of Wilson—The night of the
mob—University studies—Rise of the medical school—Anecdotes and
adventures—Reminiscences of fellow-students—Sir John Pringle—First
acquaintance with Robertson and John Home—Achievements in dancing—Ruddiman
the grammarian—Medicine—The army—The Church—An evening's adventures
with Lord Lovat and Erskine of Grange—Clerical convivialities—Last
session at Edinburgh.
Chapter III
Goes to Glasgow—Leechman, Hutcheson, and the other professors—Life
and society in Glasgow—Rise of trade—Origin of Glasgow
suppers—Clubs—Hutcheson the metaphysician—Simson and Stewart the
mathematicians—Moore—Tour among the clergy of Haddington—The author
of The Grave — Return to Glasgow — College theatricals—Travelling
adventures—News of the landing of Prince Charles—Preparations for
the defence of Edinburgh—The Provost's conduct—Adventures as a
disembodied volunteer—Adventures of John Home and
Robertson—Expedition to view Cope's army—The position of the two
armies—His last interview with Colonel Gardiner—The
battle—Incidents—Inspection of the Highland army—Prince Charles.
Chapter IV
Sets off for Holland—Adventures at Yarmouth—Leyden and the students
there—John Gregory—John Wilkes—Immateriality—Baxter—Charles
Townshend—Dr. Aitken —Return to Britain—Violetti the dancer—London
Society —The Lyons—Lord Heathfield—Smollett and John Blair —Suppers
at the Golden Ball—London getting the news of the battle of
Culloden—William Guthrie and Anson's voyages—Byron's narrative—The
theatres and theatrical celebrities—Literary
society—Thomson—Armstrong—Secker.
Chapter V
Return to Scotland—Windsor—Oxford—Travelling adventures—Presented to
the church of Cockburnspath—Subsequently settled at Inveresk—His
settlement there prophesied and foreordained — Anecdotes — Anthony
Collins—Social life in Inveresk and Musselburgh—John Home.
Chapter VI
Ecclesiastical matters—The affair of George Logan—Sketches of the
clergy —Webster—Wallace—Contemporary history of the Church—The
"Moderates" and the "Wild" party—The patronage question—Riding
committees—Revolution in Church polity, and Carlyle's share in
it—Sketches of leaders in the Assembly—Lord Islay, Marchmont, Sir
Gilbert Elliot—Principal Tullidelph.
You can get to this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/carlyle/index.htm
Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend
------------------------------------------
By Donald A MacKenzie
Another new book for you and here is how the Introduction starts...
The myths and legends of Scotland are full of what is called "local
colour". They afford us not only glimpses of ancient times and of
old habits of thought and life, but also of the country itself at
different times of the year. In the winter season the great mountain
ranges are white with snow and many inland Iochs are frozen over,
but along the west coast, which is washed by the warm surface waters
of the Atlantic and bathed in mild moist breezes from the
south-west, there may be found sheltered and sunny spots where wild
flowers continue to bloom. The old people believed that somewhere in
the west the spirit of Spring had its hiding-place, and they
imagined this hiding-place to be a green floating island on which
the sun always shone and flowers were always blooming. During the
reign of Beira, Queen of Winter, the spirit of Spring, they thought,
was always trying to visit Scotland, and they imagined that Beira
raised the storms of January and February to prolong her reign by
keeping the grass from growing. Beira was regarded as a hard and
cruel old woman, and the story of her exploits is the story of the
weather conditions in winter and early spring. She rouses the
dangerous whirlpool of Corryvreckan, she brings the snow, she
unlooses the torrents that cause rivers to overflow. According to
folk belief, it was she who formed the lochs and the mountains. In
the days when the people had no calendar, the various periods of
good and bad weather were named after the battles of Beira and the
victories of the spirits of sunshine and growth. Gaelic-speaking
people still refer to certain gales in February and March by their
ancient names—the "whistling wind", the "sweeper", and so on, as set
forth in the second chapter. On the northeast coast even those
fisher folks, who are not Gaelic speakers, still tell that the
fierce southwesterly gales of early spring are caused by the
storm-wife whom they call "Gentle Annie". This Annie may be the same
old deity as Black Annis of Leicestershire and Anu of Ireland, whose
name lingers in the place name, the "Paps of Anu", a mountain group
in County Kerry. In Scotland the story of the winter goddess, Beira,
has a strictly local setting. She is, in consequence, a local deity.
Bride, the lady of summer growth, is still remembered also, and
there are beautiful Gaelic songs about her.
You can read the rest of this Introduction at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/myths/intro.htm
The other chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/myths/index.htm
Highlander and his Books
------------------------
By Frank Shaw
Tucked away among a shrine of trees just outside Greenville, SC is
Furman University, one of the most beautiful settings in America.
The James B. Duke Library sits majestically as a center of focus for
the 2,600 students on campus. DebbieLee Landi is Special Collections
Librarian and University Archivist. She came to Furman after stints
at the University of Missouri and the University of Mississippi. In
my role as a university trustee, I have had opportunity to work with
DebbieLee and am very aware that dedicated members of the university
staff like her make Furman a special place.
DebbieLee is more than just a dedicated employee at a great
university. She is my friend! I am proud to welcome her to this
website. (FRS: 4.14.09)
Old Games in New Scotland
By DebbieLee Landi
As early as 1621, a Scottish nobleman, Sir William Alexander,
established a settlement in Port Royal, Nova Scotia near the Bay of
Fundy. Although this settlement did not last and control of Nova
Scotia alternated between France and England for almost one hundred
years, one of the Treaties of Utrecht finally transferred Nova
Scotia to England in 1713. More than seventy years elapsed before
Scottish highlanders permanently settled in northeastern Nova Scotia
and today’s Antigonish County. These immigrants arrived speaking
Gaelic, transporting their storytelling traditions, fiddling, piping
and dance traditions as well as their devotion to the games of the
Highlands.
The townspeople of Antigonish, the Highland Heart of Nova Scotia,
met on August 22, 1861 to authorize the creation of a Highland
Society. According to the members of the Antigonish Highland
Society, the mission of the society would be “to protect and
perpetuate the language, customs, music and games of the Highlands.”
On October 16, 1863, this Society held its first Highland Games. We
were fortunate to attend the 145th Antigonish Highland Games on July
19, 2008, Clan Day. The photographs which follow capture only a few
of the many activities and unfortunately, do not adequately convey
the exhilaration of the participants and the ardor of the
spectators.
DebbieLee Landi
All photographs courtesy of Ryan K. Lazar
You can read the rest of this and see some pictures at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/old_games.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
-------------------
By Frank Shaw
In this article Frank is waxing lyrical about a new book on Burns
"The Bard". In one paragraph he tells us...
One other thing that sets this book apart is that the author has
uncovered new material on Burns from the diary of Reverend James
Macdonald whose insightful material was hidden away in the archives
of St. Andrew’s University. The diary of Reverend Macdonald focuses
on a conversation he sat in on just two months before Burns died.
Crawford mentions that this “is the last extended account of his
conversation written during the bard’s lifetime”. The author goes on
to say that “this is Burns the spirited rebel, Bard of Sedition,
even Blasphemy”.
You can read the rest of this review at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/burns_lives45.htm
Also a fuller review of the book by Professor Gerard Carruthers,
Director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of
Glasgow, can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/burns_lives46.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
OUR NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
-----------------------
You can see old issues of this newsletter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/newsletter/index.htm
|
