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New-England'S Rarities Discovered In Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, And Plants Of That Country
New-England'S Rarities Discovered In Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, And Plants Of That Country has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.
- GenresHistory
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1674
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 25, 2021
John Josselyn, an Atypical Englishman!
Quaint and naive though he was, John Josselyn displayed an attitude toward First Americans that greatly differed from the norm.
Josselyn sought out the original inhabitants of New England, especially in the White Mountain area of southern Maine. He was avidly curious about flora and fauna, especially for cures and treatments of ailments.
Not once did I encounter derogative descriptions of First Americans (hereafter referred to as Firsts). Rather, he saw them as people filled with knowledge of great value to colonists and other Europeans.
He sat respectfully when orators spoke, marveling at the cadence of "perfect hexameter verse". At a time when it was common to refer to Firsts as "savages", Josselyn speaks of them as he might a Swede or Scot.
He treats his "gentle readers" to a lovely verse (originally describing a Gypsy woman, but suitable for a First maiden). The verse compares dark and light, and favors the dark woman "who neither wind nor sunshine fears". After all, "darkness was before the day".
With the verse is a description of a "Squa (sic) or female Indian". Because it was 1672, and he being ignorant of the derogatory nature of the word squaw", (so my modern First American friends inform me) ", I will give him a pass. His heart was in the right place.
The details of this woman are such that I can envision her. Grave, modest, beautiful & dressed in all her "bravery"-- surely what Josselyn saw!
Yes, he did describe the average First man as "horse-faced", meaning a long face & prominent nose. With the genetically high cheekbones and lack of beards (described as "faucious"), the Firsts faces probably did appear quite long. Do wish we had the Firsts' descriptions of the colonists' aspects!
Whenever Josselyn described a curative practice observed of a First (man or woman), it was respectful and not the least scoffing. He saw value and was keen to know more. This was a time when even common ills led to death. The Age of Discovery was on, and Josselyn wanted to do his part to enlighten mankind.
As I stated earlier, the observations are quaint and naive, but very entertaining. A few sad-looking woodcuts could not compete with the finer tomes available in those times, but Josselyn makes no boasts. Enjoy them for what they are.
Quaint and naive though he was, John Josselyn displayed an attitude toward First Americans that greatly differed from the norm.
Josselyn sought out the original inhabitants of New England, especially in the White Mountain area of southern Maine. He was avidly curious about flora and fauna, especially for cures and treatments of ailments.
Not once did I encounter derogative descriptions of First Americans (hereafter referred to as Firsts). Rather, he saw them as people filled with knowledge of great value to colonists and other Europeans.
He sat respectfully when orators spoke, marveling at the cadence of "perfect hexameter verse". At a time when it was common to refer to Firsts as "savages", Josselyn speaks of them as he might a Swede or Scot.
He treats his "gentle readers" to a lovely verse (originally describing a Gypsy woman, but suitable for a First maiden). The verse compares dark and light, and favors the dark woman "who neither wind nor sunshine fears". After all, "darkness was before the day".
With the verse is a description of a "Squa (sic) or female Indian". Because it was 1672, and he being ignorant of the derogatory nature of the word squaw", (so my modern First American friends inform me) ", I will give him a pass. His heart was in the right place.
The details of this woman are such that I can envision her. Grave, modest, beautiful & dressed in all her "bravery"-- surely what Josselyn saw!
Yes, he did describe the average First man as "horse-faced", meaning a long face & prominent nose. With the genetically high cheekbones and lack of beards (described as "faucious"), the Firsts faces probably did appear quite long. Do wish we had the Firsts' descriptions of the colonists' aspects!
Whenever Josselyn described a curative practice observed of a First (man or woman), it was respectful and not the least scoffing. He saw value and was keen to know more. This was a time when even common ills led to death. The Age of Discovery was on, and Josselyn wanted to do his part to enlighten mankind.
As I stated earlier, the observations are quaint and naive, but very entertaining. A few sad-looking woodcuts could not compete with the finer tomes available in those times, but Josselyn makes no boasts. Enjoy them for what they are.
April 22, 2019
John Josselyn is underrated, although that suggests that people rate him at all.
John Josselyn is ignored and that's too bad -- is probably a more accurate statement. I have all kinds of ideas about his works of natural philosophy which I'm still thinking through. He introduces the myth of the Native healer and ecological guru surprisingly early.
John Josselyn is ignored and that's too bad -- is probably a more accurate statement. I have all kinds of ideas about his works of natural philosophy which I'm still thinking through. He introduces the myth of the Native healer and ecological guru surprisingly early.
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January 19, 2013This version is a reproduction of the original 1674 text. The two challenges in reading is that the letter s is frequently written like an f (though usage is inconsistent). The other challenge is it's written for a 17th century British reader, and descriptions are relative to what that reader would be familiar with--so a bird is described in terms of how it is like a particular British bird and how it differs. Interestingly, at the end of each page, the first word of the next page appears by itself, right justified on the last line.
The notes on the animals and plants focus on how they can be used as food, medicine, or occasionally for clothes, items or trade. One striking comment described how Native Americans would take a rattlesnake by the head and tail and eat it live.
Though often spelled differently, most animals are identifiable. One notable exception is the Pilhannaw or Mechquan, a monstrous kind of hawk with a head the size of a year-old child that preys on fawns and jackals and has two to three purple feathers protruding from its head. It was rarely seen then, which makes me wonder if it ever existed, or if it did but went extinct. There seems to be a much more comprehensive list of fish and plants than of mammals, reptiles, insects or birds.
The notes on the animals and plants focus on how they can be used as food, medicine, or occasionally for clothes, items or trade. One striking comment described how Native Americans would take a rattlesnake by the head and tail and eat it live.
Though often spelled differently, most animals are identifiable. One notable exception is the Pilhannaw or Mechquan, a monstrous kind of hawk with a head the size of a year-old child that preys on fawns and jackals and has two to three purple feathers protruding from its head. It was rarely seen then, which makes me wonder if it ever existed, or if it did but went extinct. There seems to be a much more comprehensive list of fish and plants than of mammals, reptiles, insects or birds.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews