Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 August 22

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 22

Cousheries

Aphra Behn's novel Oroonoko mentions creatures called "cousheries"(it's not totally clear if the word is singular or plural) that live in Surinam, described as "a little beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble beast that it is it in miniature". Does anyone know what this creature is? It sounds like it could be a monkey, but I'm not sure. 68.123.238.140 (talk) 01:51, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Margay or Jaguarundi? I'd think "in the form and fashion of a lion" would let out even a marmoset or tamarin. Though Aphra Behn may have actually visited a plantation in Suriname, her knowledge of natural history of northern South America is mostly second-hand, isn't it?.--Wetman (talk) 06:27, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

A note to the Oxford Classics edition gives:

cousheries: possibly couchari, the Galibi word for a deer ( Todd, Penguin).

Todd is: Behn, A., & Todd, J. M. ed. (1992). Oroonoko, The rover, and other works. Penguin classics. London, England: Penguin Books.—eric 18:58, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

I found an online reading guide which identified the cousheries as "deer" with no further comment, so that's interesting to know. If Behn really did have only secondhand knowledge of Surinam fauna, I guess it's not implausible that she could have confused the word for "deer" with accounts of local felines and vaguely lion-esque monkeys. 68.123.238.140 (talk) 16:47, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

-- It isn't a 'deer' because the source text that Behn allegedly used (George Warren - Impartial Description of Surinam (1667)) demonstrates that a 'deer' and 'cousheries' are two separate animals. It is most likely a 'lion tamarin monkey'.

Historical estimates of marginal propensities to consume

I was wondering if anybody knows where I could find statistics with estimates on the marginal propensity to consume/save in different countries and for different times. Is there such a database somewhere? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.94.182 (talk) 09:37, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Really? Nobody? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.225.94.182 (talk) 10:50, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Counsel's notebook

• Counsel's notebook

Can anyone tell me precisely what this is used for, and who by, in the context of the British legal system? Thanks. ╟─Treasury§Tag►contribs─╢ 13:05, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

A counsel is a Barrister, if that helps. --Tagishsimon (talk) 18:38, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

- The Economist magazine has a publication and website section called "The Economis Intelligence Unit". I believe it requires a subscription (and it ain't cheap). Not sure if it has the metric you are looking for but might be a good place to start.

What is Shiv Sena stand on gays in Mumbai

Since Shiv Sena is Pro Hindu and in the Hindu Mythology there are many gay references, are they okay with a relationship between a MAN and a Man or WOMAN and WOMAN —Preceding unsigned comment added by Elvisdsouza (talk • contribs) 22:07, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Our article Shiv Sena contains few clues, but it does have a link to the website of the party's publication [[1]]. At the bottom of the site's homepage there's a contact button. You could always click on it and ask them. Karenjc 22:20, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

From this ref I get the feeling they don't particularly approve of homosexuality... Nil Einne (talk) 05:30, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Modern-style publicly "out" gays are arguably not really part of traditional Indian culture, but hijras are indisputably part of traditional Indian culture... AnonMoos (talk) 16:34, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

Shiv Sena is a Hindu chauvinist and militant Marathi nationalist political party and it does not approve homosexuality. When Fire (1996 film) was released, Shiv Sena organized violent demonstrations against this film. Otolemur crassicaudatus (talk) 21:30, 23 August 2008 (UTC)

There are references I've heard of of homosexual sexual activity in classical India, such as a male harem in addition to a female harem, or in manners similar to the Persian traditions, but none to ongoing relationships between two men or two women. The idea of homosexual marriage is not common in India, especially modern India. The modern notion of homosexuality is different to that of hijra. Whether it's moral or not is not the issue here, but as Homosexuality in India says, it is not generally acceptable to much of the modern Indian population. Steewi (talk) 12:27, 24 August 2008 (UTC)