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| CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS
Rest of the World - Diving
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HEKURA. The Diving Girl's Island. Fosco
Maraini.
THE ISLAND OF THE FISHERWOMEN. Fosco Maraini. First published in Great Britain in 1962, by Hamish Hamilton, London,as Hekura. The Diving Girl's Island; then in the USA, same year, by Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, New York, as The Island of the Fisherwomen. Hardcover, dustjacket, 95 pages, seventy-four mono and colour plates throughout. A wonderful record of the Ama divers of Japan, and their diving for pearls. 'The habits, religion, and feasts of this tribe are interesting enough; but it is the girls themselves, diving almost naked and priding themselves on their strange vocation, who are the chief subjects.' The two books are identical except for the covers. From eBay: A sought after diving book. Study of the Ama divers who live in about 50 villages n the coastline of Japan on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and smaller offshore islands. These people live a life distinct from that of the ordinary Japanese by whom they are considered rather as gipsies are with us. The Ama women do not dive for pearls, as is commonly believed but for edible seaweed and shell-fish. They dive without snorkels, without scuba gear, with very little cloths on, just a kind of g-strings, goggles and the tools they need under water. The photos are incredible. [ps] Note: It appears that British prefer boobs, and the Americans, bums. |
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THE PEARL SEEKERS
A Tale of Adventure in the Southern Seas. Alexander MacDonald. Illustrated by Edward S. Hodgson. Published 1908 by Blackie & Sons, Limited, London. Preface - "I have based this story on some personal expereinces in the South Seas, and on some well-known incidents which occurred there, of which I happen to have some experience". The author goes on to mention a well known Australian shipwreck - "As for th advenjturers, I need only remind my readers of the gang of very modern pirates who stole the Highland Railway Company's steamer ferret. This vessel, as is well known, was engaged in several more or less nefarious practices before she was finally captured at Melbourne." The Ferret indeed was captured on a voyage from Englan to Marseilles, but never arrived; she was captured, as the India, after entering Port Phillip. There is nothing in this work of fiction that adds to our knowledge of the voyages of the Ferret, and indeed she seems never to hve entere the South Pacific, but no doubt the author took some inspiration from her piracy. A ripping good yarn eh wot! |
'Next moment there was a terrific sea-shaking report'. |
