Civilization One can rightly be described as fascinating, one does not have to be a mathematician to grasp the basic thrust of the arguements put forward.
However, there are one or two passages which are difficult to follow, mainly because it would appear that a previous statement made is contradicted by a following statement further along the journey of reading, or perhaps it is because the narrative gets somewhat convoluted at times.
One case in particular needs some explanation (which I believe only the author/s can answer) and that refers to pages 176/177 of the book in which we are told how Alan (Butler) is attempting to track down his friend, Gordon Hookey - "an indiginous Australian", i.e. Aboriginal.
We are told how one day a stranger (a didgeridoo music teacher) appears at his front door and during the conversation it transpires that the stranger had spent "considerable periods living in the Australian bush with Aboriginals". It goes on to state that the stranger "manufactured his own instrument", presumably a didgeridoo, and became "one of Britain's few non-Aboriginal experts on the subject".
Now, here comes the puzzle:
Alan asked the stranger whether he "happen to know if native Australians ever used a didgeridoo that produced a note a little over C sharp---".
The story goes on: "HOOKEY (my capitals) paused momentarily as he thought. "yes, they certainly do - ----- etc."
I must be forgiven for questioning the truth of this passage because a) Gordon Hookey has been described as an indigenous (Aboriginal) Australian and a friend of Alan's and b) the person at the front door is, firstly "a stranger" and secondly, "Britain's few non-Aboriginal experts ---".
Yet, the person answering Alan's question regarding the note "a little above C sharp" has been identified as Gordon Hookey.
Something is wrong.
Knut M ([email protected])
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road