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"This is very--awkward," I said. We were trotting down the quay heading out of town. A dozen travellers riding on donkeys makes for an interesting spectacle and guests from the inn who'd watched us rehearse had come out to see us off. They waved and cheered enthusiastically, while other tourists pointed at us and laughed. Geraldine turned to the rude ones, drew back her wide lips and showed them a massive set of gleaming teeth. A smile? I think not. "Relax, Toots. Try
not to bounce so much, you'll be fine. I haven't lost a rider yet,"
she told me.
Donkey Incorporated The journey to the House of the Serpents and the stories about the donkeys inspired Fran Sbrocchi to form Donkey Incorporated, a union devised to protect the rights of the donkeys who so faithfully transported travellers to their destinations. These faithful animals were loyal companions as travellers set out in search of The House of Serpents and Blind Spring. Here are some of their adventures. You will be captivated and amazed by the diversity of experiences. Make sure to visit the Donkey Gallery of Fame, as recorded by Fran, the secretary of Donkey's Incorporated. 1.
Roads Stairways and Wings by Luna Eternally Serpent Queen
They may have held them at arms length but travellers came to love the Lemurian Serpents and spent idyllic days with the Gorgons at the House of the Serpents. Camel Stew
Gregory Blakey is the talented young designer who is responsible for the design of this year's advent calendar and, indeed, the design of all the templates on Soul Food. A few years ago, as part of his graphic design course he created Camel Stew. This stew would feed Kitchener's army and should not be talked about in the presence of camels. Enjoy. Caravanserai Schedule
Approaching Petra by Camel
The Hadramis grew rich in the frankincense trade's heyday, controlling the flow of the resin to the Greeks and Romans who craved it. The frankincense trail depended for its existence on the camel, domesticated by 1300 B.C, probably first in Arabia. Meet at the quay at dawn tomorrow.
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December 11 2005 Faithful Companions
Journey to House of Serpents When travellers met at the quay at Duwamish Bay on the first journey along the Silk Road they were given these instructions. "I have some good news and some bad news, depending on how you view things. The Ferry Women have withdrawn their services after local residents of Duwamish expressed outrage about them doing 'tours' to the Isle of Ancestors with living people. This means that we now have to take the longer route back to the cave. Raven messengers have flown back to Duwamish to say that inclement weather makes access to the cave impossible for several weeks so we will have to return by a longer route. We will pass through the Mountains of Myrr which the writer of the Song of Solomon (1V6) said he wanted to retreat to. Since most of you have travelled lightly I have packed small bags for you. Each bag contains spectacles, a candlestick, a tiny anchor, a medallion with the imprint of the Unicorn and a set of wings. However, each bag contains something that has been chosen specifically for the recipient. It also contains a map showing where we will be staying on the first night. This bag is very important. Should you become separated from the group these things will become essential. You may choose to wear the spectacles for they are purported to have fairy like qualities which reveal wonders to those who wear them.
At the edge of town a guide is waiting with 12 donkeys and will lead you through the mountains of Myrrh. I have to pay the Ferry Women and try to placate the residents so I will meet you at the House of the Serpent, near the Blind Springs at the foot of the mountain. We will stay there tonight." "You set out from Duwamish on the back of a donkey that insisted you ride upon her. She has a name and talks to you about the coming journey. Within moments the guide leads you into a heavily wooded forest. Gnarled branches spread their long arms across the path, whispering as you pass. The words of the Enchantress ring in your ears and you touch your bag to make sure it is still with you. Everyone is quiet and contemplative and the hooves of the donkey seem to be beating a tune as you travel on the well worn path. Suddenly the quiet is shattered. A group of hooded riders surround the party, surround each donkey. Chaos breaks out. The guide has gone. Before you know it you are being whisked away by hooded riders who do not reveal their identity. Riders head out in twelve different directions. The group has been separated and you are alone. All you know is that somehow you need to reach the Blind Springs and the House of the Serpent. Record your journey." Essential Caravanserai Companion
The
people [of Ferghana]...have...many good horses. The camel...manifests its merit in dangerous places; it has secret understanding of springs and sources; subtle indeed is its knowledge. -- Kuo P'u, 3rd c. CE (tr. E.H. Schafer) Crying camels come
out of the Western Regions,
The camel is known as the "ship of the desert." In the past two thousand years, caravans on the Silk Road transported silk, tea, pottery and lacquerware from China to the western regions and pearls, jade, herbal medicines and perfume from Central and West Asia and Europe to China. The camel's great virtues include the ability to carry substantial loads--400-500 pounds--and their well-known capacity for surviving in arid conditions. The secret to the camel's ability to go for days without drinking is in its efficient conservation and processing of fluids (it does not store water in its hump[s], which in fact are largely fat). Camels can maintain their carrying capacity over long distances in dry conditions, eating scrub and thorn bushes. When they drink though, they may consume 25 gallons at a time; so caravan routes do have to include rivers or wells at regular intervals. The use of the camel as the dominant means of transporting goods over much of Inner Asia is in part a matter of economic efficiency--as Richard Bulliet has argued, camels are cost efficient compared to the use of carts requiring the maintenance of roads and the kind of support network that would be required for other transport animals. In some areas though, down into modern times, camels continue to be used as draft animals, pulling plows and hitched to carts. Bells are a feature of the camel caravans in the desert. These bells have provided interesting themes for poems, paintings and music. Instead of being hung on the camel's neck, bells in the shape of an iron bucket are hung on a stick on the saddle of the last camel. In the vast and silent deserts, the sound of slow and rhythmic camel bells is often the only music for the grooms. However, the real purpose of using the bells is to prevent camels from being lost. Camels are very timid. Even when a hare passes by, it will be frightened and jump. In addition, the bells can be used as the signal for the camel train. In the past, bandits often robbed goods on the way. When approaching dangerous spots, grooms would hide the bells. Without hearing the familiar sound, camels would know that their masters wanted them to keep on without making noise. The bells can also be used as alarm bells. Upon hearing the bells, foxes, hares and gerbils that come out to look for food will escape in a hurry or hide in holes. Thus they will not disturb the camels. Camels are loyal companions and guides to desert travelers. Before a storm, alert camels will lie on the ground. The grooms stay close to them to avoid the onslaught of the storm. In addition, camels often guide grooms to water sources. Therefore those who raise camels look after them well as they depend on them for survival at times. For example, as camels do not like hot weather, grooms often start their journey at nightfall and stop travelling at midnight in order to avoid the scorching sun of the day. For fear that the hard stones of the roads will hurt the hooves of the camel, they often carefully choose good roads, and even take the trouble of tying soft sheepskin onto them when walking in the desert. |
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