Re: [Paddlewise] Who really invented Paunch Stew?

At 09:42 AM 12/4/98 -0500, John Winters (humble servant of Dr Inverbon) wrote:
>Today, the Greenland style of paddling is erroneously labelled for in fact
>it is the British style as modified and corrupted by British army officers
>playing at Eskimo and returned to the Inuit via the the BCU propaganda
>machine.
SNIP
>And what is the true Greenland style of paddling? We can never know
>although we are blessed with an ample number of experts who do know and
>should not be troubled that they cannot agree. Sea kayaking magazines would
>consist of but ten pages of advertising and an article about the mysticism
>of paddling were it not for the growth industry in Greenland revisionist
>history.


Dear Dr Inverbon,

I am sorry to have to inform you that your excessive consumption of
fermented Paunch stew has finally resulted in irreparable damage to your
grey matter.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Greenland kayaking lineage was
never lost. It was in jeopardy of disappearing this century but fortunately
through the efforts of veteran kayaking men (notably Manasse Mathaeusen)
the old skills were passed to a new generation. The impetus for young
Greenlanders to learn the skills and form the Greenland Kayak Club, was due
in large part, of a loan to the Museum of Greenland at Nuuk of three
ancient Greenland kayaks that had been preserved in the Netherlands. So you
are correct that there was indeed a European connection. Today, seal
hunters in West and East Greenland still ply the waters in traditional
boats and equipment, although the rifle is more common than a harpoon
nowadays. And of course, more still use a power boat, but that is not the
point. Regarding consensus among "experts", show me any field where the
"experts" agree. Being belligerent and eccentric is simply what makes
someone an expert, apart from living out of town, talking with an accent
and always traveling with a carousel of slides, of course.

Dr Inverbon, if it is indeed true that the Greenlanders had lost their
knowledge and were corrupted by those incorrigible Brits, then please
produce to the paddling world one Brit who can demonstrate 35 traditional
Greenland rolls including hand and throwing stick rolls, balance braces,
chest sculls (staying upright with harpoon line attached to the kayak and
pulled sideways by six men, or a truck on shore), and rope gymnastics. For
that I would eagerly devour a 55 gallon drum of your finest paunch stew
(please throw in some smoked whitefish and chubs, too). 

Respectfully,

Gregory Paul Stamer 
Paunch Stew (and smoked fish) Connoisseur





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