The Bolaris Report

The Bolaris Report

This is all that is left of a report produced by Annie Bolaris In the first week of life ashore for the Prize Mary party. From the manuscript, only the name of the author, who is referred to in another document authored by Mardy Dominic, describing cooking methods, and that of Mr. Pequod, Sailing Master of the Prize Mary and frequent resident of both the East and West Indies, are known.

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(lost portion)............prevented from venturing forth too far without the permission of our appointed leaders. I felt somewhat hemmed, but this passed quickly when the sounds of the night expressed themselves.

We spent most of the first week just moving about on the nearby beaches and not more than a short walking distance into the greenery. Beach searches produced little, and the fringe greenery had already been exploited to either side of the settlement. The week was very sunny, and the sea was at time extremely warm. The air was rather humid. If there was a breeze, it was nice, but when the prevailing breezes ceased, the air was almost unbearable. Some of the more adventurous members of our band did some diving into the clear waters where the bottom was clearly evident and enchanting. I am not prone to swimming, therefore, I occupied surrounding rocks and shallow pools. Much of what they reported was alive with descriptions of many varieties of fish and crawling creatures as well as outcrops of colorful growths Mr. Pequod called corals.

Other reports included a shark and an odd fish, Mr. Pequod said was poisonous. I was able to draw a number of images from the descriptions. I was also chided for my elementary style, but when I offered to resign from my self-appointed post, I received many compliments, earned or otherwise, from those who would rather describe than scribe.

After the first week, five of us went for a one night adventure into the greenery of the main island into the hills overlooking the island to the west. We spent a cool night in a crude lean-to made out of shocks and broadleaves. This was a welcome relief from the heat and humidity of the past few days. Moving about in a tropical forest is not for those who don't like to sweat tears of salt or feel somewhat like a fish out of water. Spiders wove their webs across every natural path, and some of the inhabitants were as large as an open palm of a man’s hand. I drew these from a considerable distance, so detail is not as evident as it is with plants.

We moved a bit north and inland again away from the nearest coastline for a better view of the eastern portion of the island. Mister Pequod pointed out the edible plants, and I sketched what they looked like. We had agreed to furnish our compatriots with as much reference material and samples as would be practicable considering our situation and lack of sophisticated equipment. Mr. Pequod said, that from his experience in both the east and west islands of the world, that almost any plant has either fruit, root, or leaf edible, but one must still be careful. He pointed out examples, and I drew them.

There were bananas, of which I was mildly familiar because of my limited but intense studies in England, mangos and pineapples. Eating the bananas, only the yellow, was quite delightful, and I savored the sweet, somewhat spirited taste. I was warned not too eat too many, otherwise, I could render myself indisposed at the most inconvenient of times. I ate two, and suffered no extended effects.

We stopped for the night and built another lean-to from gathered wood, reed, and straw. Mister Pequod left our group for some hours and returned with product that he explained was a root that was used as a sacred drink, but had become quite common, since many of the islands were catering to passing ships and offering this treat to those who came ashore. The brown result tasted rather earthen, peppery and bland, but it provided a delightful relief from straight fresh water. Mr. Pequod pointed out, as I sketched, that the drink could become a habit and would reduce productive hours of all who drank it, therefore, we should state that in our material. It was so noted.

After more time gathering samples and other notable items, compliments of Mister Pequod’s expert instruction, we returned to the settlement in anticipation of much excitement over our finds. I was elected by my peers to continue my documenting; I was flattered and accepted. It was a delight to find my femininity applied in such an appropriate manner for a change.

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