From: Alastair Reynolds <areynold@estsa2.estec.esa.nl>
Subject: Re: (whorl) just the mervrow thing
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 09:23:53 +0200 (MET DST)

> 
> um, I seem to recall a reference somewhere (erudite
> ones, help) of Dutch seamen taking "sea wives" for
> their extended journeys of exploration and trade,
> ports and tropical isles not always being convenient. 
> So the term "mervrow(frow, etc.) came into use as a
> not-particularly pejorative term.  After all, these
> weren't just casual fling type relationships, and they
> served more than one vital function, deserving of
> respect in their own right, plus of course the usual
> status of captain's lady.  If anyone can back me up,
> i'd be most grateful, but i feel pretty sure of this. 
>  Tottergrass

Fascinating - and given the general permeation of Dutch
culture by things maritime, more than believable. 

Al

*This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.
*More Wolfe info & archive of this list at http://www.moonmilk.com/whorl/
*To leave the list, send "unsubscribe" to whorl-request@lists.best.com
*If it's Wolfe but not Long Sun, please use the URTH list: urth@lists.best.com