Mr Thomas 

Stalham Middle School

Dear Mr Thomas,
                           I was interested to hear that you are to visit Yarmouth Maritime Museum. I first encountered this establishment as a teenager, in the mid ‘50s, when it was still a home for shipwrecked sailors. The original title is still high across the frontage, tho’ probably obscured by a ‘museum’ sign. The ‘museum element was just the top floor, the exhibits comprising curios and souvenirs amassed by residents. There were usually a couple of Dan’l Peggottys basking on the steps, and the occasional one encountered on the landings, as one climbed the stairs.
     Of course, when the Proper Authorities decided to get rid of these nasty, smelly old men (the official line was that the institution became redundant- not enough shipwrecks) the collection was absorbed into Norfolk Museum’s general stock, and many of the original exhibits have gone to other museums.
     One such item I remember was a piece of drapery from Nelson’s funeral bier. I know from my own reference books, that the bier was fashioned like a war ship, and round the base were hung half-circles (2ft radius) of fringed black velvet. On each one was attached the name of one of Nelson’s victories, the letters being made of either tin plate, or gilded leather, the example I saw being ‘Trafalgar’. The bier was pulled by rows of seamen. It was nice to think of one of them helping himself to a souvenir when the shindig was over. To see the article in the sailors’ home, and to muse on that same sailor possibly having ended his days on the floors below, gave the experience an added frison which is not appreciated by many, and now, alas, is available to none.
     I also recall a glass case some 4 or 5 ft long housing several dozen stuffed albino squirrels, all pink-eyed, feasting round a magnificent dining table, the whole in a stately home type setting. Sounds bizarre- like a quote from J.Peasemold-Gruntfuttock in ‘Round the Horne’.
     One exhibit which I believe is still there, and this is my main reason for writing (yes, we’ve only just got there) is the Indian scalp. It was at one time displayed with an accompanying letter documenting its origin, and therein lies the major fascination. I believe the letter has since been withdrawn, possibly due to racial sensitivity, but if memory serves, the letter was written by the commanding officer of the cavalry troop that dispatched the original wearer of those raven tresses, and ran along theses lines:-
     The Indian, a fierce giant, was the last survivor of a group of marauders who had been tracked down, and exterminated by the cavalry. Finally he was cornered and surrounded by a troop of several dozen men, who proceeded to ‘fill him full of lead’, but the ignorant savage refused to die, and just stood there shooting back, and knocking off soldiers at an alarming rate. Eventually the Indian did fall to the ground, apparently completely incapacitated, so a trooper was detailed to approach and administer the ‘coup de grace’ with his pistol. However, as our luckless hero approached, the dastardly heathen roused, raised himself up, grabbed his discarded lance, and skewered his assailant, who gave a shriek and fell dead. Well you would, wouldn’t you? The brave cavalry settled back and loosed a few more salvoes, and when the savage was finally stilled, after a safe interval of judicious observation, another trooper was despatched to take the Indian’s scalp.
Although obviously very dead, the creature instilled such fear even yet, that the soldier was in such a hurry to accomplish his task and repair to safety, that in lifting the scalp he brought an ear with it, said ear being clearly visible.
     You may be aware of the general allegation that the barbaric practice of scalping was instigated not by the supposed savages, but by the U.S. Government, who paid a bounty on them as a way of encouraging the Indian genocide; a view encouraged, not contradicted by the numerous references in western literature and films. The bounty hunter must have been a fairly common beast for the genus to be so firmly entrenched in the folklore, and there couldn’t have been enough escaped convicts or army deserters to keep them in business in any number. The Indians only adopted scalping as a retaliatory measure.
     Well now that I’ve got that all off my chest, I hope it may be of use to you- in the pub, if not in the classroom.