In the early days of travel, one has to haul along a lot more things, the beddings, the food, the water and a staff that might include a cook. Here in Petra, most of the tombs are named according to what they look like, the silk tomb because it had striations like that of silk. Sometimes there are inscriptions of names like that of 'Uneisha' other time they are simply the 'urn' tomb. The explorer, Edward Lear brought along his cook. His cook is reported as saying, 'Master, we have come into a world where everything is made of chocolate, ham, curry powder and salmon. Had they named some of the tombs, the names most likely have gastronomic associations. He omitted to describe in Petra the colors of fresh blackcurrant, peach, apricot, mulberry and saffron. (from Jane Taylor's book on Petra).
1 comment:
I visited Petra in the 1970s, before the hordes arrived and well remember the brilliance of the colours - and looking for all the food in the quote from Edward Lear's cook! Tha nks for the memory
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