Book Description

A neat quarto manuscript notebook on lined paper, with an account of a journey by a ship s doctor from Algiers, to Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Annam, Philippines, back to Hong Kong, Japan, the Pacific, USA (Seattle), the Wild West, Tacoma, and back to Hong Kong, then to Europe via Italy and Brittany. Some 220 written pages in all, mostly on the rectos, with some notes to verso in a clear hand, with occasionally later corrections or additions, some in red. A neat log of the ship s voyage is folded and loosely inserted. The author sails on the SS Glengarg, a steamer of 4000 tons which he refers to as a neat and shapely little packet of the Glen Line, which specialised on taking passengers to China. At the end, there are endnotes on Japan, and vocabulary drawn from his travels, with a note on the American cowboy, the Hobo, The Den or Dive, Timber (in Washington State), and American gold diggers. The description of the US wild west is particularly evocative. (approximately 30 pages) extracts are as follows:.During our preambles & searchings curious characters dropped in our way, but one of the most noticeable was Jack a true daughter of the Wild West (see note at end, the American Cowboy). Now Jack was a natural girl if ever there was one, moving in the early days in Texas, Mexico & down California & gradually migrating farther north until the present finds her in a wild up country ranch surrounded by her father s cattle, horses, & cowpunchers or more commonly known as cowboys …This Jack a bronzed-face girl of 28 or 30 with ruffled hair under a large hat & short, evidently divided skirt…she wore over her well-developed calves the American high lace-up boot & small spurs on both feet. A loaded riding whip in hand, a gun (revolver) in a holster at her side…on further acquaintance, she could ride, shoot, take a peg, & [?]form swear words common to the country like any trooper…She was not illiterate far from it & I can only remember her as a good hearted generous lass who could be true blue if occasion arose….I commented on her wearing two spurs as a woman, she replying with Yankee Drawl & emphasis something about never yet meeting an Englishman who understood or could ride a horse….more roaring on her part & more indignation on mine but when she leaped into her saddle & rode cross-legged like a man my ire turned into admiration when I watched the many feats of horsemanship. He describes further their banter, including a remark she makes, No, said she, America only recognises two men: Je-sus Christ and General Jackson. An evocative account with a great deal of varied first-hand description, particularly interesting for its detailed account of Jack, the cowgirl.
Author R. B. P.
Date ????
Binding Hardcover
Publisher N/A
Condition Good

Price: £750.00

Offered by Celsus Books

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