Bøger af Emily Stehr

William Smyth, Frederick Lowe; Narrative of a Journey from Lima to Para, Across the Andes and Down the Amazon: Undertaken with a View of Ascertaining the Practicability of a Navigable Communication with the Atlantic, by the Rivers Pachitea, Ucayali, and Amazon; J Murray; 1836 William Smyth and Frederick Lowe write: "On the 23rd we touched at Loreto, with the intention of adding to our stock of provisions, but found it a very poor place, and that nothing was to be had; we then dropped down the river to an island called Ticuna Island, in the middle of the stream, where we slept in a hut belonging to the Ticunas Indians. Our course this day had been southeast 1/4 south, and we had advanced thirty-eight miles. About this time we lost our little Ronsoc, who had become very tame, and a great favourite: we had given her the name of Rosa, and when called she would run to us. Unfortunately, a calabash of lemonade which we had made for our own use fell in Rosa's way, she could not resist the temptation, and emptied it, and paid for her imprudence with her life."

"Giant: noun (1) (in folklore) a being with human form but superhuman size, strength, etc; (2) a person or thing of unusually great size, power, importance, etc; major figure; legend; (3) (often initial capital letter) Classical Mythology, any of the Gigantes; adjective (1) unusually large, great, or strong; gigantic; huge; (2) greater or more eminent than others." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/giant "Colossus: noun, plural (1) (initial capital letter) the legendary bronze statue of Helios at Rhodes; (2) any statue of gigantic size; (3) anything colossal, gigantic, or very powerful." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/colossus "Behemoth: noun (1) an animal, perhaps the hippopotamus, mentioned in Job 40: 15-24; (2) any creature or thing of monstrous size or power." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/behemoth "Brobdingnag: noun; the region in Swift's Gulliver's Travels where everything was of enormous size." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/brobdingnag "Mammoth: noun; any large, elephantlike mammal of the extinct genus Mammuthus, from the Pleistocene Epoch, having hairy skin and ridged molar teeth; adjective; immensely large; huge; enormous." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/mammot

Interesting History of the Planet Saturn Word Origin and History of the Planet Saturn "The planet sixth in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 74,600 miles (120,000 km), a mean distance from the sun of 886.7 million miles (1427 million km), a period of revolution of 29.46 years, and 21 known moons. It is the second largest planet in the solar system, encompassed by a series of thin, flat rings composed of small particles of ice. "Old English Saetern, a Roman gold, also 'most remote planet' (then known), from Latin Saturnus, originally a name of an Italic god of agriculture, possibly from Etruscan. Derivation from Latin serere (part participle satus) 'to sow' is said to be folk-etymology. "An ancient Italic deity, popularly believed to have appeared in Italy in the reign of Janus, and to have instructed the people in agriculture, gardening, etc, thus elevating them from barbarism to social order and civilization. His reign was sung by the poets as 'the golden age'. "Identified with Greek Kronos, father of Zeus. Also the alchemical name for lead (late 14th century). In Akkadian, the planet was kaiamanu, literally 'constant, enduring', hence Hebrew kiyyun, Arabic and Persian kaiwan 'Saturn'." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/saturn Charles Coleman; The Mythology of the Hindus, with Notices of Various Mountain and Island Tribes, Inhabiting the Two Peninsulas of India and the Neighbouring Islands; and an Appendix, Comprising the Minor Avatars, and the Mythological and Religious Terms ... of the Hindus; Parbury, Allen; 1832 Charles Coleman writes: "SANI or SHUNI, "Is the planet Saturn. He is described of a dark colour, and clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows, and two daggers in his hands. (See fig 3, plate 26.) His vahan is variously represented, being by some called a black vulture or raven, and by others an elephant. He is old, ugly, lame, of an evil disposition, has long hair, nails, and teeth, and is of the Sudra caste. It is unfortunate to be born under this planet, and the ills of life are ascribed to his influence, as he is supposed to be skilled in all kinds of wickedness. In the worship of him numerous ceremonies are in consequence resorted to, to appease him. He presides over the day of the week Saniswar, or Saturday."

Interesting Place Names and History of America Toad Suck, Arkansas? Treasure Island, Florida? Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaug Lake, Massachusetts? Satan Pass, New Mexico? Bad Wound, South Dakota? Gun Barrel City, Texas? Walla Walla, Washington? If you are wondering where these names came from, this is the book for you! Other interesting place names included, plus interesting history of America!

Word Origin and History of Bangkok: "A seaport in and the capital of Thailand, in the south central part, on the Chao Phraya." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/bangkok William Samuel W Ruschenberger; Narrative of a voyage round the world, during the years 1835, 36, and 37; Vol 2; Richard Bentley; 1838 William Samuel W Ruschenberger writes: "Bankok is built upon the river Meinam, at a point where it is about half a mile wide, and perhaps twenty miles in a direct line from the sea. It extends about two miles and a half up and down the river, and from a mile to a mile and a half on each side of it. Bankok proper is on the right or western bank, while that on the left, from the palace being situated there, is named Sia-Yut'hia, but to the eye it appears all one town. It is irregular in its plan and is every where intersected by canals. The streets are dirty and narrow; the paved walk in the middle being scarcely wide enough for two persons to walk abreast. The reason for this, according to the Siamese, is that there are no two of the same rank in the kingdom, and etiquette does not permit individuals of different degrees to walk side by side! Many of the houses are extensive, but the greater portion of them are miserable bamboo huts, without any appearance of comfort. Trees are every where numerous, and the frequent 'Wats' or Boudhist temples, with their gilt and glazed tile roofs and spires, sparkling in the sun, give to the city a picturesque appearance, and an air of wealth and magnificence."

Word Origin and History of Singapore: "An island on the Strait of Singapore, off the south tip of the Malay Peninsula. "An independent republic comprising this island and a few adjacent islets: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British crown colony (1946-59) and member of the federation of Malaysia (1963-65). 220 square mi (570 square km). "A seaport in and the capital of this republic. "From Sanskrit Simhapuram 'Lion City', from simhah 'lion' and puram 'city', from Proto-Indo-European *pele- 'citadel, fortified high place' (see polis). The name is perhaps metaphoric of something, as no lions are found there. Singapore sling attested from 1930; said on the island to have been invented there 1915 by a barman named Ngian Tong Dron." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/singapore Florence Marryat; Gup: Sketches of Anglo-Indian Life and Character; R Bentley; 1868 Florence Marryat writes: "There are a great number of tigers about Singapore and the adjacent islands, and sometimes they swim across from the mainland and frighten the residents into fits. "Once whilst I stayed at Penang, a large tigress swam on shore, perfectly exhausted, and had her brains knocked out as she lay panting on the beach. In Singapore the 'man-eating' tigers are so numerous, that natives are said to be carried off at the rate of a man a day, and so used have they become to such accidents, that when a Chinese cooly sees a tiger trotting after him, with an evident view to dining, he quietly sits down and resigns himself to his fate."

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana "Jew: one of a scattered group of people that traces its descent from the Biblical Hebrews or from postexilic adherents of Judaism; Israelite. A person whose religion is Judaism." http: //dictionary.reference.com/browse/jew "Persecution: a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group." http: //dictionary.reference.com/browse/persecution "Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." http: //www.european-forum-on-antisemitism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/english/

Word Origin and History of San Francisco: "A seaport in west California, on San Francisco Bay: earthquake and fire 1906; United Nations Conference 1945. "A city in California, US, named in Spanish for St Francis of Assisi; the name first recorded in reference to this region 1590s, reinforced by long association of the area with the Franciscan order." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/san--francisco Thomas Jefferson Farnham; Travels in the Californias, and Scenes in the Pacific Ocean; Saxton & Miles; 1844 Thomas Jefferson Farnham writes: "'On the same day, however, Jose Castro, Bicenta Contrine, Ankel Castro, and a runaway Botany Bay English convict, by the name of Garner, a vile fellow, and an enemy of mine, because the foreigners would not elect him their captain, passed and repassed my house several times, and conversed together in low tones of voice. I stopped Jose Castro, and asked him what was the matter. He replied that he was going to march against the Commandante General Viego, at San Francisco, to depose him from the command of the forces. His two companions made the same assertion. I knew that Alvarado was afraid of Viego, and that Jose Castro was ambitious for his place; and for these reasons, I partly concluded that they spoke the truth."

Word Origin of Mumbai: "A seaport in and the capital of Maharashtra, in west India, on the Arabian Sea." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/mumbai Word Origin and History of Bombay: "City in western India, from Portuguese, and popularly explained as Portuguese bom bahia 'good bay', but that seems folk etymology (for one, the adjective is masculine and the noun is feminine), and the more likely candidate is the local Mumbadevi 'Goddess Mumba', a Hindu deity worshipped there. The city's name officially changed to Mumbai in 1995." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/bombay R Johnson; The new Gazetteer: or, Geographical Companion containing a general and concise account, alphabetically arranged, of all the empire, kingdoms, states, provinces, cities, towns, seas ... in the known world and more particularly in Great Britain; 1776 R Johnson writes: "BOMBAY, an island on this side the Ganges, and capital of the English settlements in the East-Indies. East longitude 73 north, latitude 19. It was formerly very unhealthy; but by draining the bogs, and other methods, that inconvenience is now in some measure removed."

Interesting History of the Columbia River Definition of Columbia River "A river in southwest Canada and the northwest United States, flowing south and west from southeast British Columbia through Washington along the boundary between Washington and Oregon and into the Pacific. 1214 (1955 km) long." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/columbia--river John Melish; A Geographical Description of the United States: With the Contiguous Countries, Including Mexico and the West Indies; Intended as an Accompaniment of Melish's Map of These Countries; AT Goodrich; 1826 John Melish writes: "Historical View. - The Spaniards claimed the discovery of Columbia River, and called it Ectra de Ceta. In 1791, Captain Gray, an American, in the ship Columbia from Boston, entered the river, and gave it the name of Columbia after that of his vessel; and this name it has since retained. The river was afterwards explored by Lieutenant Broughton, under the command of Vancouver, who ascended about 100 miles. In 1805 the river and its waters to the eastward were explored by Lewis and Clark, who spent the winter of 1805-6 on its shores, near the outlet; and it is to the extraordinary enterprise of these great men that the public are indebted for nearly all that is known of the country between the state of Missouri and the ocean. A settlement has been made by the fur traders upon the banks of the river, called Astoria, and it is said to be in a flourishing state."

Interesting Place Names and History of Scotland Hatton of Fintray, Aberdeenshire? Burnt Islands, Argyll and Bute? Sweetheart Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway? Dunmore Pineapple, Falkirk? Soutra Aisle, Midlothian? Papa Westray, Orkney Islands? Auchensoul, South Ayrshire? If you are wondering where these names came from, this is the book for you! Other interesting place names included, plus interesting history of Scotland!

"Zambezi: a river in Southern Africa, flowing south and west from Zambia through Eastern Angola and Zambia and then east along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe into and through central Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. 1650 miles (2657 km) long." http: //dictionary.reference.com/browse/zambezi Alexander Keith Johnston; Dictionary of Geography, Descriptive, Physical, Statistical, and Historical, Forming a Complete General Gazetteer of the World; Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans; 1853 Alexander Keith Johnston writes: "ZAMBEZE, or CUAMA, a river of East Africa, enters the Indian Ocean by numerous mouths, between Luabo and Quilimane, latitude 18 degrees to 19 degrees south, longitude 36 degrees to 37 degrees east, after an east course uncertain length. Only its principal branch, the Quilimane, has been ascertained to be fit for navigation."

Interesting Place Names and History of England Aston Juxta Mondrum, Cheshire? Nine Maidens Downs, Cornwall? Fridaythorp, East Riding of Yorkshire? Toot Hill, Essex? Burton Lazars, Leicestershire? Dorking, Surrey? If you are wondering where these names came from, this is the book for you! Other interesting place names included, plus interesting history of England!

Interesting Place Names and History of New Zealand Bay of Plenty? Eketahuna? Hakataramea? Kihikihi? Murderers' Bay? Taumata¬whakatangihanga¬koauau¬o¬tamatea¬turi¬pukakapiki¬maunga¬horo¬nuku¬pokai¬whenua¬kitanatahu? If you are wondering where these names came from, this is the book for you! Other interesting place names included, plus interesting history of New Zealand!

Word Origin and History of Afghan: "1) Also, Afghani; a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan. 2) Pashto. "Name of the people of Afghanistan, technically only correctly applied to the Durani Afghans; Old Afghan chronicles trace the name to an Afghana, son of Jeremiah, son of Israelite King Saul, from whom they claimed descent, but this is a legend. The name is first attested in Arabic in al-'Utbi's 'History of Sultan Mahmud' written circa 1030 CE [BC] and was in use in India from 13th century. Attested from 1833 as a type of blanket or wrap (in full, Afghan shawl); 1973 as a style of sheepskin coat; 1877 as a type of carpet; 1895 as a breed of hunting dog." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/afghan William Hough; A Narrative of the March and Operations of the Army of the Indus: In the Expedition Into Affghanistan in the Years 1838-1839, Under the Command of HE Lieut-General Sir John (now Lord) Keane, GCB & GCH, Commander-in-Chief; W Thacker and Co; 1840 William Hough writes: "12. Camels carried off. (20th June, 1839) - Thermtr. 4 AM 66 degrees. To-day about 150 camels belonging to one of HM's Regts were carried off, while grazing close to camp; one of five unarmed Europeans in charge killed, and the rest severely wounded. A guard of a Sergt and eight men was sent out as a protection to the camels, but they went into a village to escape from the heat of the sun; and knew nothing of the camels being carried off till too late. The five unarmed men went down to the rivulet to water the camels; a gang of mounted Affghan robbers, rushed from concealment, and drove off the camels. The Europeans behaved as well as men could do, without arms, in defending the camels. The Brigr of the day went out immediately, with the picquets, but the camels were off to the hills, and could not be traced."

Word Origin and History of Rio de Janeiro: "1) A port in southeast Brazil, on Guanabara Bay: the country's chief port and its capital from 1763 to 1960; backed by mountains, notably Sugar Loaf Mountain; founded by the French in 1555 and taken by the Portuguese in 1567. Population: 11,469,000 (2005 estimate). "2) A state of east Brazil. Capital: Rio de Janeiro. Population: 14,724,475 (2002). Area: 42,911 sq km (16,568 sq mi). "Literally 'January River', named by explorer Amerigo Vespucci because he discovered it on January 1, 1502, and so called because he incorrectly thought the bay was the estuary of a large river." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/rio-de-janeiro Sir George Saunton; An Historical Account of the Embassy to the Emperor of China, Undertaken by Order of the King of Great Britain: Including the Manners & Customs of the Inhabitants & Preceded by an Account of the Causes of the Embassy & Voyage to China. Abridged Principally from the Papers of Earl Macartney, as Comp; J Stockdale; 1797 Sir George Saunton writes: "The whole of the Brazils is divided into eight governments; the revenue is estimated at about a million sterling; of which one third was consumed in the expences of administration. The principal seat of government, and chief mart for commerce, was formerly at Bahia dos Todos os Santos; but the discovery of the diamond and gold mines, within a hundred leagues of Rio de Janeiro, caused its removal to this place, whose governor has the title of Viceroy."

Word Origin and History of Albania: "A republic in south Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula, west of Macedonia and northwest of Greece. 10,632 square miles. (27,535 square km). "Medieval Latin name of the country called by its inhabitants Shqiperi (literally, 'land of eagles', from shqiponje 'eagle'), from Medieval Greek Albania, possibly from a pre-IE [Indo-European] word *alb 'hill' (also proposed as the source of Alps) or from the PIE [Proto-Indo-European] root *albho- 'white' (see alb). Roman Albania was a land by the Caspian Sea (modern Daghestan); in English Albania was occasionally also a name for Scotland." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/albania Julius von Klaproth; George Goldie (Edinburgh), John Cumming (Dublin), editors; Frederic Shoberl, translator; Travels in the Caucasus and Georgia: Performed in the Years 1807 and 1808, by Command of the Russian Government; Henry Colburn; 1814 Julius von Klaproth writes: "Strabo's account is as follows: - It is said that the Amazons formerly dwelt on the mountains beyond Albania. Theophanes, who accompanied Pompey in his expedition to Albania, at least asserts that the Albanians were separated by the Amazons from the Scythian tribes of the Legi and Geli, and that the river Mermadalis formed the boundary between those two tribes. But Skassius, Metrodotus, Hipsicrates and others who were well acquainted with the country, asserted that the Amazons were neighbours of the Gargaraeans, who inhabit the northern foot of the Keraunian mountains."

Interesting History of Lagos [Nigeria] Definition of Lagos "1. The former capital and chief port of Nigeria, on the Bight of Benin: first settled in the sixteenth century; a slave market until the nineteenth century; ceded to Britain (1861); university (1962). Population: 11,135,000 (2005 estimate) "2. A state in southwest Nigeria. Capital: Ikeja. Population: 9,013,534 (2006). Area: 3,345 sq km (1,292 sq miles)." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/lagos Walter Graham Blackie; The Imperial Gazetteer: A General Dictionary of Geography, Physical, Political, Statistical and Descriptive; Vol 2; Blackie and son; 1855 Walter Graham Blackie writes: "LAGOS. ... 3, A slave-trading station, on a river and lagoon of same name, on the Slave Coast, Bight of Benin; latitude 6 degrees 20 minutes north; longitude 3 degrees 30 minutes east. It is the capital of a territory of same name, tributary to Dahomey, and was one of the most notorious slave stations on the west coast of Africa. The British consul having been fired upon, when attempting to negotiate a treaty for the abolishing of the slave trade with the reigning chief (Nov 1851), though at the time under a flag of truce, Lagos was attacked by a party of 160 or 180 from the Bloodhound steamer. This force, however, had to retire, with the loss of two officers and 10 men. But, on Dec 24 and 26 following, a well-organized and successful attack was made upon the place, which is strongly fortified by stockades, and was defended on this occasion by 5000 men. Lagos was taken, after a desperate engagement, 57 guns destroyed, and a treaty signed prohibiting the slave-trade, putting down human sacrifices, and securing, not only the freedom of commerce, but the liberty to diffuse Christianity. ..."

Word Origin of Niagara Falls: "The Falls of the Niagara River: in Canada, the Horseshoe Falls, 158 feet (48 meters) high; 2600 feet (792 meters) wide; in the US, American Falls, 167 (51 meters) high; 1000 feet (305 meters) wide." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/niagara-falls Timothy Alden; An account of sundry missions performed among the Senecas and Munsees: in a series of letters, with an appendix; American autobiographies: 1676-1850; printed by J Seymour; 1827 Timothy Alden writes: "On thursday we rode to Lewistown, and returned on saturday. On our way, we had the satisfaction of viewing that wonderful specimen of the true sublime of nature, the Niagara Falls; or, in the language of the Senecas, the N'yeuchgau Koskongshade. We crossed the river, viewed the heights of Queenston, and, in the evening, I preached to a respectable assembly of his Britannic Majesty's subjects. We also visited the Rev Mr Crane, recently established, as the permanent missionary of the Indians, at the Tuscarora village. We found him at the new and commodious council house, happy in the prospect of doing good to the souls of his precious charge." Timothy Alden continues: "N'ye-uch"-gau Kos-kong'-sha-de. This is the name, which Henry Obeal gave the author for the Niagara Falls, the latter word signifying broken water. It is impossible to write with correctness the former word in English characters. In the first syllable there is a slight sound of the letter n. The second ends, in this example, with the German ch. This however in the German alphabet is a guttural. The Senecas in this syllable, as in many words of their language, have a sound, which may be called a pectoral, and must be learned viva voce."

Word Origin and History of Shanghai: "A port in east China, capital of Shanghai municipality (traditionally in southeast Jiangsu) near the estuary of the Yangtze; the largest city in China and one of the largest ports in the world; a major cultural and industrial centre, with many universities. Population: 12,665,000 (2005 estimate). "Chinese seaport, literally 'by the sea', from Shang 'on, above' + hai 'sea'. In the 19th century, a long-legged breed of hens, supposed to have come from there; hence US slang senses relating to long, tall persons or things." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/shanghai William LG Smith; Observations on China and the Chinese; Carleton; 1863 William LG Smith writes: "The native city is called Shanghai from its locality. The name is a compound of two Chinese characters translated shang and hai, and correspond in meaning with the English words above and water. The city is situate in latitude 31 degrees 12 minutes north, and longitude 121 degrees 28 minutes east from Greenwich, on the Wangpoo river, near its junction with the Soochoo creek, and twelve miles above the intersection of the Woosung river with the Yangtze, and fifty miles from the sea. The Wangpoo river and the Soochoo creek when united, form the Woosung. Vessels drawing twenty-two feet of water can cross the bar at the mouth of the Woosung, at spring tide, and come up to the harbor. The tides, however, are so strong, and the channel so tortuous at some points, that it is necessary to take a pilot."

Word Origin and History of Jade: "1) Either of two minerals, jadeite or nephrite, sometimes green, highly esteemed as an ornamental stone for carvings, jewelry, etc. "2) An object, as a carving, made from this material. "3) Also called jade green. Green, varying from bluish green to yellowish green. "1721, earlier iada (1590s), from French le jade, error for earlier l'ejade, from Spanish piedra de (la) ijada (1560s), 'stone of colic, pain in the side' (jade was thought to cure this), from Vulgar Latin *iliata, from Latin ilia (plural) 'flanks, kidney area' (see ileum)." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/jade William Bullock; A Companion to the London Museum and Pantherion: Containing a Brief Description of Upwards of Fifteen Thousand Natural and Foreign Curiosities, Antiquities ... Now Open for Public Inspection in the Egyptian Temple, Picadilly, London; 15th edition; 1813 William Bullock writes: "Various kinds of short Hand-clubs, or Pattapattoos, of different forms and materials. They are worn by the natives of the South Seas, in the same manner as daggers are worn by the Asiatics, and are usually made of hard wood, bone, green jade-stone, or basaltes."

Word Origin of San Juan: "A seaport in and the capital of Puerto Rico, in the northern part." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/san-juan Pedro de Cieza de Leon; Sir Clements Robert Markham, editor, translator; The Travels of Pedro de Cieza de Leon, AD 1532-50, Contained in the First Part of His Chronicle of Peru; Vol 2; Vol 33 of Hakluyt Society; Half-title: Works issued by the Hakluyt society no XXXIII; Issue 33 of Works issued by the Hakluyt Society; ISSN 0072-9396; Hakluyt Society; 1864 Pedro de Cieza de Leon writes: "FOURTEEN hundred and ninety-two years had passed away since the Princess of life, the glorious virgin Mary our Lady, begot the only-begotten Son of God, and the Catholic kings Don Fernando and Dona Isabel of glorious memory were reigning in Spain, when the illustrious Christoval Colon set forth with three caravels and ninety Spaniards, whom the said kings ordered to serve under him. After sailing twelve hundred leagues to the westward over the wide ocean, he discovered the island of Espanola, where now stands the city of Santo Domingo. Then also were discovered the islands of Cuba, and of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Yucatan, Tierra Firme, New Spain, the provinces of Guatemala and Nicaragua, and many other islands and kingdoms as far as Florida; and afterwards the great kingdom of Peru, Rio de la Plata, and the strait of Magellanes. Yet so many years had elapsed during which this vast expanse of land was unknown in Spain, nor was there any rumour concerning it!"