just the mervrow thingWhorl

um, I seem to recall a reference somewhere (erudite ones, help) of Dutch seamen taking "sea wives" for their extended journeys of exploration and trade, ports and tropical isles not always being convenient. So the term "mervrow(frow, etc.) came into use as a not-particularly pejorative term. After all, these weren't just casual fling type relationships, and they served more than one vital function, deserving of respect in their own right, plus of course the usual status of captain's lady. If anyone can back me up, i'd be most grateful, but i feel pretty sure of this. Tottergrass

Fascinating - and given the general permeation of Dutch culture by things maritime, more than believable. Al *This is WHORL, for discussion of Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun.