A Big Game and Fishing Guide to Northeastern Maine

While I was browsing the internet the other day, I came across 'A Big Game and Fishing Guide to Northeastern Maine', one of two books that I thought I would never see by my great grandfather, James Churchward. It had been scanned by the folks at Google and is part of their online repository of old books at: books.google.com. A great many old books are available and can be downloaded in either plain text or pdf format. This particular work from 1897 has nothing to do with old legends, ancient history, or lost continents, but does provide a glimpse of how well acquainted James was with hunting and fishing.
The book was issued under the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad banner and credit is given to James Churchward as author. The work was produced in support of Maine tourism (and riding the B&A Railroad) and targets the hunting and fishing sportsmen of the northeast US. James did work on the railroad as a salesman as mentioned in the 1936 biography, "My Friend Churchey" by Percy Tate Griffith and he also designed and patented railroad hardware between 1889 and 1893 as can be seen in the seven patents he was issued during that time. P.T. Griffith also mentions on a number of occasions that James was a great fisherman and this work is confirmation of that fact. Also mentioned in the work is James' past as a hunter in India. In the introduction on page 8, he says:

"We have hunted tigers, elephants, buffalo and other big game in India, but nothing in our experience surpasses the ugliness and wickedness of a wounded bull-moose when he turns on you, which fortunately does not often happen, for, like most other large animals, they will try to get off, even when wounded."

The rustic images portrayed in the photographs from the book and the written text bring alive a different era, one that has disappeared except through the pages of this book and books like it. It was an era where a broad segment of the population knew how to use guns and fishing tackle, something that the urbanization of the United States over the past 110 years has diminished considerably. While the use of firearms throughout the history of the United States has sometimes been contested, the written text provides the reader a look inside the mind of a 19th century sportsman and his thoughts on the subject. (As a point of reference, a table provided in the book [page 120] details the 'Game Record.' In the four year period between 1894 and 1898, 7,767 deer were shot and transported via the railroad, either to be stuffed or brought home for sustenance. This number did not count the number of animals brought down for food in the hunting camps or for the local population. This number does not include the Caribou or Moose that were transported via the railway.)
Although primarily a vehicle for advertising, James treats the reader to his heart-felt ideas on how to bring down big game in the woods or carefully hook and land the biggest fish. The reader will also enjoy the drawings of wildlife and their habitats that accompany the photographs and written instructions and for those that have read any of James' other works, they will recognize the characteristics of his illustrations. First, he sets the stage by introducing the reader to the various locales and what might be expected there. With this discussion, he introduces the reader to guides and camps to be contacted, distances to traverse and special areas to keep in mind. The descriptions provided in the book leave the reader with no doubts that the author travelled to these places and undertook the activities he so vividly describes. This chapter ends with a list of Taxidermists and places to stay.
The next chapter details fishing. James covers the species, their habits and where they might be found. Illustrations of each variety are also produced for easy identification. James also provides an in-depth discussion about tackle, rods, reels, and even the clothes to bring along. He also engages in a discussion of the best way to sink the hook and land the biggest fish. Special sections are devoted to the "Science of Trolling" and "Hints to Young Fishermen." In the later, he states:

Bear in mind that you are fishing with a rod and a flimsy thread, not with a telegraph pole and a clothes line.
Your line should be a rein to guide the fish to you, not a hawser to haul it there.

The next chapter details the species of game and hints to bring them down. James discusses different places to shoot the game, with the final admonishment to 'whenever the opportunity offers, take the shoulder shot, and make it well down and forward.' Also, James describes the best outfit to obtain, from footwear to hats. In addition to a hunting knife (not double-edged), he suggests a holstered revolver (38 or 44 caliber) and has a whole section on selecting rifles and shooting them. Just before the chapter is completed by a list of registered guides, the author suggests the latest in bedding for sleep comfort.
The next chapter is devoted to the game laws of Maine, followed by the aforementioned 'Game Record', rates for the B&A Railroad to various points, and stage (coach) connections.
This book adds another dimension to the life of James Churchward and shows that he was a man of his times. Remembering that he was born in 1851, this book was researched and authored while he was in his late forties and from all appearances, he had the energy, drive, and stamina to negotiate the uncharted wilderness. These characteristics would be needed later when he had settled his lawsuits with 'Big Steel' and had the time and finances to pursue his study of old legends, ancient history, and lost continents.
btw, the title of the other book that I thought I would never see is "Copies of Stone Tablets Found by William Niven at Santiago Ahuizoctla Near Mexico City" published in 1927 and that volume is also listed in the same Google repository, although no scanned copies are available, nor do any of the book sources listed have a copy for sale, nor do any libraries show a copy available. This book would be an invaluable addition to any research library engaged in studying Niven's tablets as mentioned in James books after 1930.
Another book by James Churchward has also been revealed during recent research:
"Fishing Among the 1,000 Islands of the St. Lawrence" by James Churchward (New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company; 56 pages; 4 track series. Printed by American Bank Note Co (1894))
This book is also listed by Google Books, however there are no copies available.
Jack Churchward
Clearwater, Florida

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Tahsin Mayatepek & Mu (Part 1)

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

James Churchward

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For a long time I had been aware from speaking with people and emails that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey was a sincere believer in the theories of James Churchward and the common origin of man in the now sunken continent of Mu. For over a year I have been searching for information on the research that Ataturk undertook with regards to the 'Great Uighur Empire' as detailed by my great grandfather in the 'Children of Mu.' [Please note that this is an ongoing effort to research the sources of stories about the 'Great Uighur Empire' and is carried out on the 'Great Uighur Empire' mailing list, details of which can be found here: http://mail.my-mu.com/mailman/listinfo/gue_my-mu.com]
Well, finally I have been provided some clues.
Recently, a reader wrote to inform me that Ataturk had sent the historian, Tahsin Mayatepek to serve as the Turkish Ambassador to Mexico and that while he was there he was tasked with researching the similarities between the Turkic people and the Mayas. Also, Tahsin wrote five reports on the Turkic origins of Mayan civilization. This person has graciously agreed to translate these reports into English. As soon as I have obtained the English translations, they will be placed on the website under resources.
Also, I have also discovered the name of an author Sinan Meydan that has written books on the subject of Ataturk and his study of the lost continent of Mu. I have yet to contact him, but when I do, I'll pass along what I learn.
There are other theories competing with the theory of the Turkic roots of the Mayan civilization. For instance, there are several scholars and their works that postulate that Africa was the source of Mesoamerican civilization. These scholars point at the 'African features' of Olmec statues, introduced botanical evidence (the bottle gourd), and linguistic elements linking the African continent to Mesoamerica.
Another theory elucidates that Vedic influences in India served as the basis for culture and civilization for Mesoamerica and likewise it has been postulated that the Tamil people from Sri Lanka and southern India first brought their culture and civilization to Central America. Certain architectural features and linguistic content are used to provide the proof of these hypotheses.
Another theory insists that the Chinese were the true source of culture and civilizations for Mesoamerica. This ideology was also backed up with artifacts. Niven found what he termed a 'Chinaman' statue in his excavations in Mexico and an image was reproduced by James Churchward in his book "The Lost Continent of Mu Motherland of Man" (1926), "The Lost Continent of Mu"(1931.)

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Relics from Niven's Lowest City 1. Egyptian head. 2. Ancient Grecian vase 3. A toy. 4. Little Chinaman

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Today's standard theory of the origin of the people inhabiting the Americas is that there was a migration through the land-bridge through the Bering Straits or in small boats along the Pacific coastline from Asia. Of course, as the standard hypothesis, these theories are rejected almost immediately in favor of some of the other lines of research indicating long oceanic voyages or from the lost continents of Atlantis, Mu, or Lemuria. Even the dates of the earliest arrivals are a contentious issue. Based on archaeological evidence available when the theories were first postulated, the human presence in the Americas was dated to 10,000 years ago. When finds were made that pushed back these dates, the original theory became a conspiracy and those that had stated it were hiding the truth.
The purpose of my research into the theories of James Churchward and the Lost Continent of Mu is to understand and interpret the evidence to reach a solid, defendable foundation of knowledge. Do artifacts from the Topper Site in South Carolina bear any resemblance to artifacts from the European Solutrean culture? Is there reason to believe Dr. Goodyear when he states that there are European influences in pre-Clovis sites in the Americas? Does the genetic evidence retrieved from the Windover site in eastern Florida indicate a heretofore unknown people? What about the age of some of the South American sites that predate any sites in North America, where did those folks come from? Does any of this mean that the European influences were derived from colonies of Atlantis before it sank or are these the remnants of the colonies of Mu?
There are still many questions to be answered and probably even more to be asked. The veil surrounding the theories researched by Ataturk regarding the Great Uighur Empire and the Turkic origin of mankind will hopefully be lifted soon and serve as a starting point for further understanding.
Lastly, let me state that I have the utmost respect for the final resting place for everyone that came before us. I understand the concern felt by some that the respect due them has not always been shown to the remains of Native Americans and I share their concern that disturbing their remains is against their wishes. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention that our knowledge of the people inhabiting the Americans is fragmented at best. One or more groups/tribes can trace their ancestry to a certain location for hundreds of years and while it is understandable that they do not wish for their ancestors to be dug up, the fact remains (i.e., the remains discovered at the Windover Bog site or the Kenewick Man), that the remains of some folks are not related to the people who were here when the European settlers arrived. With the laws on the books today, any research into finding out who some of the other peoples were is forbidden. Were more remains found today, archaeologists are not able to even test to discover whether or not they are related to the people known as 'native Americans.' Therefore, until something can be worked out to be able to research the peopling of the Americas, science takes a back seat to political correctness. My concern is that if someone does find the remains of colonists from Atlantis or Mu that date back ten or twelve thousand years, the find must be covered and everyone loses the knowledge which might tell us the truth, instead of the fragmented truth that is known today.
Jack Churchward
Clearwater, Florida

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