Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 21:46:11 -0600 (CST)
Message-Id: <199902030346.VAA27460@atlantis.nconnect.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
From: pathfndr@nconnect.net (Rich Frey)
Subject: Re: baidarka spirit lines
While cultures can seem very different, they can share the same issues.
I have a very plausible explanation for the spirit lines on the
gunwales. Imagine... The father is teaching his son how to construct a first
class baidarka. Because the son is a rebel at heart, he isn't really paying
attention to important things, like the optimal depth of the holes for the
ribs. So the father has his son gouge a groove the length of the gunwales to
have as a more precise guide. After the boat is finished, the admiring peers
of the son notice the marks--RACING STRIPES! Not to be outdone, they begin
to pinstripe their own boats, until the entire tribe can be recognised by
the marks on the boats, which might come in handy when they get together
with other tribes; it could be pretty hard to recognise one's own boat, when
they are all built the same.
Of course, there's at least one kid who is the tribal showoff and
has pinstriped every wooden member on his boat. Gaudy, but hey, it might end
up in a museum some day. What could be next, furry dice?
I know I have, at times, climbed into the wrong dodge caravan by mistake
because it was parked close to mine and was the same model, same color. I
suppose I could gouge a line down the side, but then it would look like all
the others that have already been 'keyed'.
Seriously, I believe in the speculative explanation by Mr. Brinck, because I
simply _choose_ to believe. Therein lies the start of many superstitions and
beliefs. My boat has been imparted with plenty of spirit; perhaps only I can
see it.
Rich in Slinger, Wisconsin