-Poul Anderson, The Boat Of A Million Years (London, 1991), p. 243.
I haven't and am not much wiser after googling.
Tu Shan in Tibet and Deathless in North America are not feared but revered when they survive unaged for centuries but their socio-geographical isolation cannot be preserved indefinitely.
Alert for more unfamiliar words, I find that the hunters bring:
"...hides, heads, haunches, humps, entrails, umbles..." (p. 244)
and:
"'...nor could the dogs draw much on their wretched travois.'" (p. 245)
As the shaman, Deathless opposes new ways like horse-riding although they bring prosperity. His opponent, Running Wolf says:
"'New gods are in the land, fiery from the hands of the Creator...'" (ibid.)
As an innovator, Running Wolf is able to recognize change (new gods) and also the perennial background for change, here personified as "the Creator."
Deathless put tobacco "...into his calumet..." (p. 248)
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I remember this chapter as well. And one reason why I think Deathless disliked the new ways being introduced by Running Wolf and his friends was a perhaps merely intuitive understanding that a nomadic way of life based on the horse and the hunting of bison was ultimately a dead end. That true progress called for becoming a sedentary, agricultural people.
Sean
I had to click on 'umbles' to get the meaning.
'Travois' I knew perhaps from reading history of the N. American plains.
'Calumet' I think I learned from Calumet island & Allumette island in the Ottawa river.
Ie: pipe & matches islands named by French voyageurs.
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