Saturday, August 4, 2012

Scotland the Brave

If it wasn't for the artist Joanne B. Kaar, I wouldn't have heard of Robert Dick. Please look at her wonderful blog,
joannebkaarbakersbotanistswhalers.blogspot.com or her web page, www.joannebkaar.com
Only through her did I find out about an extraordinary 19th Century Scottish botanist. ( Forgive me, Joanne, I don't know how to link. )
With his mother dying during his boyhood, and his father remarrying an apparently cold-hearted second wife, the young Robert Dick was apprenticed to a baker, and was obliged to forsake a sense of home.

In Caithness, in the northern reaches of Scotland, this may have been ordinary fare. But not for Robert Dick, with his enquiring mind and an aptitude for perseverance. He not only established a successful bakery, but he worked unstintingly to explore and understand all the vastness around him.
I was thrilled to find this biography appear. 'Robert Dick, Baker of Thurso, Geologist and Botanist', by Samuel Smiles, published by John Murray, Albemarle Street, London, 1878, is one of those books that take you back, way back when.
Despite my apparently Scottish surname and my father's unceasing playing of Scottish music, my own paternal line made its first recorded appearance on the Isle of Wight, back in about 1550, where it still continues. Our name was then styled 'Graunt(e)', and probably came from French settlers.
My own history is irrelevant, except that my love of plants has an affinity with Robert Dick's. This is Morven Mountain, where the young Robert walked, unceasingly, day and night, it would seem. He collected not only plant specimens, but insects, shells, stones, anything intriguing.
It's been a passion of mine to go to Scotland, a land of wandering, a land for wanderers. This is 'The Deil's Brig: Holborn Head'. I can't pretend to know what it was like for the young apprenticed baker to make his way out into the world around him, without precedent, suspected of madness by  the locals.
Entirely self-taught, self-trained and self-disciplined, "the Thurso people did not quite understand the proceedings of their young baker. He made good bread, and his biscuits were the best in the town. But he was sometimes seen coming back from the country bespattered with mud, - perhaps after a forty or fifty miles' journey on the moors in search of specimens. What were they to make of this extraordinary conduct? It could have no connection with baking. What could he have been doing during these long journeys?'
Above, 'Rocks at Holborn Head: Slaters Monument'.
Known, now, for his endurance, resilience, and commitment, his work, consisting of unending collecting and observation, led him to The Royal Geological Society. He would walk for miles and miles, across the moors, often at night...
We think we have it tough today, but Robert Dick struggled against great odds, not to be famous, but to impart his knowledge.
From page 78: On another afternoon in July he goes to the Dorery hills. "I had a ramble," he said, "on Saturday last, after my day's work was over.While on my way I found in a quarry, at a loch, a fossil fish snout or two, and some plants, I got to the hills, about ten miles off, and examined ferns and roses. I had a grand view of the Sutherland hills. I stood in a sheltered nook, and gazed at the sunlight shining far over the distant mountains. I never forget any of these moments. I turned aside this morning just to gaze upon the moon. It was about two o'clock in the morning. All was still, solemn and impressive."
And so, I am still reading about this lone explorer who shunned any limelight, who kept moving, and striving, despite being alone. Though I couldn't be as valiant or single-minded as Robert Dick, I too grow through exploration of all that is around me.

20 comments:

  1. Hello Faisal:
    This is such a superb post in every possible way.

    First you introduce us to the little known but most interesting botanist who comes over in such a sympathetic light that one is immediately drawn to him and to discover more about him. We are not in the slightest bit surprised that you empathise with him so well, Faisal, for we can most certainly see shared characteristics.

    Secondly, you reveal snippets, previously unknown, of yourself and of your family and ancestry. Also of your desire to travel to Scotland, and perhaps the Isle of Wight too, a wish which we very much hope will come true for you.

    Thirdly, you illustrate this post in such a very imaginative and sensitive manner where the placement of appropriate objects and things in each of your images cannot fail to be noticed for the delight which they give. Robert Dick would instantly recognize a kindred spirit.

    Thank you so much for taking the time to give to us all such a joyous and visual read.

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  2. I am humbled by your generosity, the loveliest Jane and Lance. In this world of ours it is the connections we make with others that make us feel real and give us direction. Yes, I'm a loner like Robert Dick, but if it wasn't for friends, those who are prepared to say how they feel, I doubt I'd come out of my bolthole. Every thing you say matters to me.

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  3. Faisal, What a wonderful find. Your posts are always a feast for the mind and eyes. I find I return multiple times to revisit everything you are offering only to find something new. I have come to look forward to these Saturday morning (my time) posts. Bonnie

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    1. Bonnie, I've always loved writing and putting things together, though it helps enormously when someone likes it! I am glowing!

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  4. between baking hours and hiking at night the poor man never got any sleep. Does the biography mentions friends, or family? An interesting man your baker/botanist, but a little sad?

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    1. Yes, Diana. Apparently he lived and worked pretty much alone, by inclination and choice, and was one of those individuals who wasn't bothered by that. It's been said, I gather, that he was lonely or sad, but nothing in his own records would indicate that that was the case. I couldn't do it myself, but good luck to him.

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  5. This is totally fascinating. What a fabulous find and what an unusual and admirable person he sounds. I am glad the book quotes his own words - it connects us with people to hear from their journals. Samuel Smiles was the great self help guru of Victorian times - think I can see why Robert Dick interested him.
    A few echoes of your own self, too , from the sounds of it.

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    1. Aah, Jenny, you know about Samuel Smiles - I didn't. Yes, I love nature in a way Robert Dick did, and I love rambling and I enjoy some measure of solitude. He may have been just more single-minded than I am. Very perceptive of you.

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  6. Scotland has always been a dream destination for me too. And although I am clearly much closer ( geograficaly) to it now I still haven't managed to visit! Lonely people like your friend Robert are usually the most complicated ones, aren't they? A baker is not just a baker.
    And I like that about people : )

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    1. Demie, at last you're back! As far as I know, Robert had a traumatic time after his mother died, and simply resolved to build a life where he wouldn't be hurt again. But he must have had a great capacity to move on in life too, and to be self-disciplined.

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  7. A true obsessive, possibly the most contented kind of man. He sounds a most interesting character and I can see that he should be or great interest to a fellow lover of plants. But when did he do his baking?

    A great post.

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    1. From what I know Friko, because he'd have to start baking at 3am, he'd often be out during the night before then, for hours, stalking the sodden moors, getting drenched. He loved it, by the sound of it. He loved the physicality, and the freedom, I imagine. Yes, an obsessive, but a sane one.

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  8. Wow!!
    What a find. It trully is a real page turner of a life story. Check out any mention of Dunnet, Dunnet Head, Brough, and particularly his trip to Brough Harbour. I live in Dunnet and grew up in Brough, which is only a couple of miles away. We launch our boat from Brough Harbour - Robert Dick watched this being built.
    Wonderful
    Enjoy.

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  9. I'm quite absorbed in it, Joanne! Makes me want to go tramping, hiking, endlessly wandering, rain or no rain! And collecting...

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  10. through Joanne's blog, I've linked to yours; thanks for showing us your find/s! I love Scotland, and have spent some wonderful holidays there. A few years ago, I did a journey around the West coast then around the top, and down the East coast. I collected things as I went, and then made a 'WoodBook' out of them, a collage, incorporating maps. The photographic montage I created of this, is currently on show in The Arthouse, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, where I live.
    Lovely post, thank you, best wishes Jan, Yorkshire

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    1. Jan, your own blog is marvellous. I can't pretend to be an artist, merely someone who loves to live in art. Does that make sense?
      Yes, Scotland's wildness is breathtaking. My heart is there, in that wildness, in that splendour.
      Yorkshire too, which I've read much about, has a related wildness and space.
      My best wishes to you.

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  11. The photos are gardens and self-revelation. Very moving. Check out G. F. Dutton's Some Branch Against the Sky for a particular Scottish garden exploration.

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    1. James, James, I love the look of this, and of 'marginal gardening'. Will have to look further. How did you come across this man and his work? Thankyou, indeed.

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  12. Thankyou! The book arrived today!!
    http://joannebkaarbakersbotanistswhalers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/from-other-side-fo-world.html

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    1. Joanne, there's no-one else in the world I feel the book better belongs to.
      Your blog and your work are incredibly inspirational, tender, creative and humane.
      I hope it contributes to your enthusiasm.
      X, Faisal.

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