If any of you want Tidbits emailed directly, let me know and I'll take care of it. Tidbits may be reprinted without charge -- with attribution. Additionally, if you know of anyone who you think would enjoy Tidbits, please make them aware of us. URL
It is a large, carnivorous, armored reptile. It is the spirit evil. It is lecherous and greedy. It loves to eat women. This last statement may well warrant a segue but I ain't touchin' it with a ten foot pole. The Bakongo of Zaire tell a tale of an old voyeur who--watching girls frolicking about in the river--wanted them so much he bought himself a crocodile fetish and then shape-shifted into a crocodile and ate all the girls.
Everybody who wants to be a crocodile ... raise your hands.
There once was a maiden by the name of Selekana who was thrown into a river by those who hated her goodness. There she was made to clean the palace of the River King--a giant crocodile. It would appear that crocodiles and women are inextricably connected. Undigested ... Selenka escaped with the crocodile's jewels.
Here we have yet another example of the opportunity to segue ... an opportunity once again ignored. The double-entendre lives.
In early myth the crocodile represented the brutal side of the god Set. He also represented treachery, deceit, and hypocracy. To be eaten by a crocodile was tantamount to a descent in hell. I tend to think this holds true regardless of which animal is doing the eating.
India. The use of adornments as symbols of wealth through the ages was unparalleled. So heavily laden with jewels were the arms of some of the women that Niccolao Manucci--an Italian physician at Auranzeb's court--had trouble when trying to feel the pulses of the heavily adorned, ornament-laden ladies of the day. Bracelets and bangles abounded. Oh to have had an internet site back in them thar days. Come good lady. View the munificence of the jewels of Tyler Adam.
The Kada (bangles) were at times worn twelve deep from the wrist on up. I have a pair with makara (crocodile-head) terminals. This, dear souls, is the connection of jewelry to the crocodilian myths mentioned above which--for all I know--are undoubtedly also a croc. Enameled. Gem set. Gold. North India. 19th century. Gorgeous. Just the thing for your woman to wear on her arm ... physcians not withstanding.
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at
And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark
All issues of Tidbits are copyrighted and available from our home page. All rights reserved.