Re: Shady Austronesian Linguistics (longish)

Leo Caesius wrote:

>     Until recently, it was maintained that sailors in antiquity NEVER sailed
> so far as to lose sight of land, hugging the coasts as they traveled the
> trade routes.
Whoever thought *that* was no sailor.  It is far better to be caught in a storm
well out to sea than on a lee shore (one where the wind blows you toward the shore),
where you will surely be beached and unable to cast away again, or even
wrecked.  Even modern powerboats can be in grave danger.

And in the Mediterranean and surrounding waters, "the further off from England,
the nearer is to France" as Lewis Carroll's Mock-Turtle has it.  Even if you
are off course, you will eventually reach a coast somewhere.

--

Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis um dies! || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau,  || http://www.reutershealth.com
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau,           || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.            -- Coleridge (tr. Politzer)