MDMD(5): Some more scraps and left-overs.

[Michel Ryckx]

'Sorting out Stockings' (58.19)

Well, this is for sure, Europeans were not very hygienic at the time
--it is no coincidence strong perfumes were en vogue at the time; add to
this the much too elaborate clothing (for more clothing of the period go
to www.kipar.org ) .  Then it is not surprising the stockings have come
'ashore all a-jumble'.  Dirty scoundrels, them surveyors.

'Stinkwood Armoire' (58.20)

The wood has not stolen its name:

'Any of various trees with unpleasant-smelling wood. The South African
tree O. bullata has offensive-smelling wood when newly felled, but fine,
durable timber used for furniture. Another stinkwood is G. augusta from
tropical America. (Genera Ocotea, family Lauraceae; Gustavia.)'

Some varieties:

Botanical name -- Previous English -- Recommended English
Celtis -- White-stinkwood
Celtis africana -- White Stinkwood -- African White-stinkwood
Celtis gomphophylla -- False White Stinkwood -- Rough-leaved
White-stinkwood
Celtis mildbraedii -- Natal White Stinkwood -- Red-fruited
White-stinkwood
(I have found this at www.museums.org.za/bio/plants/ocotea.htm )

It was (and seems to be) very popular in South Africa to make massive
furniture in it.  Though having tried hard, I have not been able to
procure some .jpg's of a stinkwood armoire with silver fittings, but one
may take a look at these web sites:
www.capedutch.co.za/capedutch.htm , a rather snobbery collection and
www.hoogekraal.co.za/rooms.htm , a hotel in which one can reserve a 17th
century room.

By the way, at a dinner-party last night, the host gave as dessert a
fresh fruit salad.  It had mango in it.  It really struck me that it has
such a kind of fleshy structure, not at all like other exotic fruits.

Michel.
(who's convinced now, after seeing the BBC's 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'
that Katje is Elisabeth McGovern)