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This miniseries was inspired by Kate Shrewsday’s post here: http://kateshrewsday.com/2014/01/06/dragon-slayers-and-knuckerholes/ Read the first post in the miniseries here: https://andrawatkins.com/2014/01/14/dungeons-and-dragons/ and the second post here: https://andrawatkins.com/2014/01/15/the-long-way-home/
1.22.1804: “I inclosed you the map of a Mr. Evans, a Welshman, employed by the Spanish government for that purpose, but whose original object I believe had been to go in search of the Welsh Indians, said to be up the Missouri.” —to Captain Meriwether Lewis from President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson believed both the Madoc legend and the possibility of Welsh natives, and who better to find them than an explorer of Welsh descent? Meriwether Lewis’s father came from the Welsh strain of Lewises. Even though his father died when Meriwether was five years old, his son identified with his Welsh heritage.
Meaning he might have been excited by the prospect of finding his ancient kinsman. Coupled with his profound respect for Jefferson, Lewis would have set out on the expedition keen to prove the Madoc rumor true if he could justify it with the science of the day.
While he wrote about light-haired, blue-eyed natives, he never really believed they were descendants of the lost tribe of Madoc. He thought the Mandan language should bear similarities to Welsh, and he concluded that it did not contain the required markers.
He used his Spanish maps to continue his journey, and he interpreted them better than the Spanish, as it turned out. The Spanish used the same maps to attempt to locate the Lewis & Clark expedition. Their charge? Find the team of intruders………and kill them.
To be continued…..
40 Comments
It’s beautifull.
Thank you. I like how the pic turned out.
Ooooh. SUSPENSE! In a hilarious aside (well, to me), this almost sounds like something Ubisoft would have cooked up as part of the historical plot line to Assassin’s Creed III:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_o49YwWZUY
Anyway, I’m on the edge of my seat, so get with the rest of the tale before I fall off and hurt myself. Granted, falling off a chair onto the carpet won’t hurt at all, but I could fall on my keys or some loose pocket change (ouch)…
Haha. At our house, I would fall on concrete. Carpet is better. Sans change.
Reblogged this on Fabián.
Thanks for the reblog!
Thanks for the reblog.
I’m sensing more and more how Meriwether Lewis has taken in you a writing captive, Andra. I’m reminded of how dangerous these explorations were. Well, ’tis another minus degree morning here, so, off I go, glad for your entry – and that I’m not Sacajawea.
I still can’t believe she had a baby on that trip. Ouch and brrrr and more ouch.
“To seek out new life, and new civilizations” … and kill them.
Hey, this fried Martian tastes like chicken!
I am too tired to respond to this comment.
The plot deepens. This makes me happy.
I never realized some of the stuff that went on behind the scenes. It was fun to research.
Love a good map!!! And I’m loving this series.
I can’t fault the Spanish. I don’t think I could’ve followed that map, either.
Wow, seriously? I’ve never heard any of this stuff before.
It came from what started as a rabbit trail and ended up fundamentally changing my book.
That is some great stuff to make room and deco for. Mm hmm!
Lovely.
They were all toughies.
I’m vaguely aware of this tidbit of history because, supposedly, according to a dubious family history written by a wacky distant cousin, some of my Welsh ancestors were part of this alleged tribe. Maybe.
Those are the best family histories, though. 🙂 I’d love to read it.
This is exhilarating stuff! It’s so thrilling to be on this adventure with you, Andra. I am learning so much!
I never knew the Spanish went after Lewis & Clark. Multiple times.
I agree with Debra. Fascinating!
I was pretty captivated when I came across this tidbit.
Maybe this shows how much of a geek I am but I really love old maps.
I do, too.
And I love the things I’m learning from this. It isn’t Scott’s period, so it isn’t something we talk about much, and there’s just tons to make me go “ooooh, I never knew THAT!”
What is Scott’s period? I’ve wondered.
The whole thing seems like a well-crafted suspense adventure plot. You really know how to end an episode on a cliffhanger!
I hope I’ve learned to write suspense well by now. We’ll see soon enough.
Crikey. They weren’t very friendly explorers, were they? Enjoying this series, Andra!
The Spanish were protecting their interests. That’s how they saw it at the time.
great post in the ongoing saga – p.s. i can barely follow google maps, to this would have been a bit of a challenge )
I’ve been looking forward to hearing more about this!
Yikes! The plot thickens!
Oh, that’s not good. I’m left wondering why…..
Treachery abounds in any period.
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