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Ladataan... A Long Ride in Texas: The Explorations of John Leonard Riddell (Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University)Tekijä: James O. Breeden (Toimittaja), John Leonard Riddell
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"Riddell's travel account of early Texas rewards readers with a rich assortment of period detail."--True West "A scholarly and valuable contribution to our understanding of mid-nineteenth century Texas. . . . his observations on the land and its people will not disappoint."--Review of Texas Books "Perhaps divine intervention has kept silent this vainglorious scientist who so openly lusted for recognition; a century and a half, however, is penance enough, and for so effectively restoring this long-lost voice, the editor deserves praise."--Journal of Mississippi History Kirjastojen kuvailuja ei löytynyt. |
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Google Books — Ladataan... LajityypitMelvil Decimal System (DDC)976.4History and Geography North America South Central U.S. TexasKongressin kirjaston luokitusArvio (tähdet)Keskiarvo:
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Riddell was a botanist, geologist, and medical doctor who lived in New Orleans. His diary is the earliest record of Central Texas made by a trained scientist, predating even Ferdinand Roemer. Riddell and a companion accompanied a group of surveyors who were to survey the county line between Bexar and Bastrop counties. This group and a military escort trace their way from San Antonio, across the Edwards Plateau, back past Enchanted Rock and then on to Austin. The diary abruptly ends before Dr. Riddell returns to Louisiana, but the description of his journey is interesting nonetheless.
The various adventures include a description of 1839 travel from Houston to San Antonio, a fight with a Comanche war party (second-hand - the good Doctor stayed to guard the camp), hunting on the Texas frontier, and accidental shootings. Riddell's first love was botany, which is evident from the description of plants he came across during his travels. However, he also made many notes on other aspects of Texas' natural environment. For example, he notes that bears were very common in Central Texas at the time. In fact, a large part of the group's diet was composed of bear meat. To avoid attracting unwanted attention from the ever-present Comanches, Mexicans in the party used lances and lariats to hunt the bears.
Breeden has done an excellent job of preserving Riddell's text while keeping the whole readable and informative. Breeden has left many of Riddell's misspellings, which give the account flavor and has included numerous footnotes to support and clarify Riddell's observations. He has also included a report written by Riddell on the geology of the Trinity Country (north of Houston), which was published by the American Journal of Science and Arts in 1839. A brief biography of Riddell, well footnoted, is included at the beginning of the book and lends a great deal of insight to the man making this journey.
Overall, this is a short, but interesting view of early Texas. The description of the Hill Country before settlement is very interesting as is the description of San Antonio. The footnotes are extensive and extremely helpful, going so far as to attempt to match people mentioned in Riddell's manuscript to Texas tax rolls. A short read, but very useful for research, in my opinion. ( )