Dr
Edmund Hoffmann
Canning - Nova Scotia - Canada
17-11-1987
Dear
Ed,
Received
your mail (both letters) today for which I thank you very much. Yes I have
been writing to Fred Jeffrey for some years and he has been most helpful
whenever I have sought information from him. He is most knowledgeable in
colour breeding, a subject which interests me more than somewhat. His book Bantam
Chickens was very good. Every poultry breeder should have it on
their bookshelf.
I
was most interested in the photostats you sent me. I have not had time to
study them in depth but will do so. I have not seen Kimball’s material
before so this will be new for me. I have heard of him however.
The
other material from Feather Fancies.
I knew this was in the pipeline but didn’t know it was so far advanced. Loyl
Stromberg who has my book on the Jungle Fowls asked me to send a copy to the
Editor of Feather Fancier. Loyl said
F.F. was going to do an article on the subject. This I did only last week. He
would not have received it by the time that article went to press. I could
find nothing new in the article. No one seems to come up with a story as from
what Gallus Bankiva came from.
I
don’t think the heading is quite right The
Evolution and Distribution of the Domestic Fowl. I think when we speak on
evolution we have go back a long way and distribution occurred much earlier
than covered in the article.
No
I have not seen Mason’s book (1984 I think), but I do have a copy of the
chapter on domesticated chicken. It was written by Professor Crawford of the
University of Saskatchewan but I’m afraid nothing new turned up there
either. He didn’t break any new ground from what I could see. I sent him my
Chicken Bone (supplement notes) and did not hear from him from quite some time
until I wrote again when he advised he had not had time to study it. I have
now sent him the Jungle Fowl but
perhaps I have thrown cat in among the pigeons both with those booklets for as
you will note my Chicken Bone (supplement notes) brings forth the later evidence to
hand of China 5000 BC, NE Thailand 3500 BC recoveries. This somewhat changes
the scene of the early documentation regarding domestication of the fowl.
Higham
said that in Thailand chickens were buried with humans (whole skeleton of
chickens) so they must have been domesticated there at 3500 BC.
I
would like to get in touch with Johannson. I
wrote to him some years ago but never received an answer. Would
appreciate his current address. He was in Oregon I think.
I
have done a lot of homework in my researches and it’s a hard road. However
the only way is to keep scouting around and I think in the long term it pays
dividends. When the relevant material is put together in one package as I have
endeavoured to do it does make some sort of a story. My writings are not
literary masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination. All I can do is to
present facts that I have learned. I have had not former training in the field
of writing. However if I can put up some information someone else may be able
to do something with it.
I
you ever want any information at all write to DR W.H. (Bill) Longenecker. I
think he is still there. He was most helpful to me and is only too happy to
assist any research.
OK
re your translation in Paris. Afraid I wouldn’t be any good at the
translation but if I could get into some of those places I am sure there would
be something to learn.
I
don’t have a word processor or computer. Will have to battle on. Would like
to have a photocopier. I printed my previous books on a Gestetner duplicator,
hard road.
Will
be interested in the Muscovy duck details when you get it updated.
Scanned
through your Immigrant from India
story and was very interested in the possibilities of distribution across the
Atlantic to the Americas.
I
have still to do section in my Origin etc series on Distribution and Diffusion
and do have some ideas on the subject. I am a great fan of Thor Heyerdahl and
his voyages by raft and papyrus boats across Pacific, Atlantic and later from
the Garden of Eden down the Persian Gulf to India, then across to Africa. In
my opinion Heyerdahl proved that it was possible movement could have occurred
in the manner he used well before Columbus. The argument I think still goes on
re pre-Columbian chickens in the Americas.
I
would like to contact Glenn Whitely you might have his full address? Your
article does raise points of interest. There is no doubt there a lot of
questions to find answer for.
Ok
re your age. I am 66 but fortunately have kept good health so far. Hope it
stays that way. Only problem my eyesight not the best. My regret it that I did
not begin this work earlier in my lifetime although I have been breeding
chickens in conjunction with my son for over 20 years and this has been a good
background. There is so much to learn, so much we don’t know. However I find
the work very satisfying.
Hope
I haven’t missed anything from your letter. Thanks once again for material.
Regards,