New Bordeaux

[Engorn]

[kwakelaar]

A very detailed description of your metro network. And I will wait to see what this cliffhanger is all about.

[art128]

Lovely small lake there, I really love all the details you've put there. Nice job ! 

[antimonycat]

That imposing castle with its bridge towering above the farmland is great. Your transit maps and other graphical objects must've had a lot of work put into them, they look splendid. I'll keep an eye on this MD.

[calibanX]

Your updates are works of art. I'm in awe every time I stop by. Great work.

Geoff

[Engorn]

calibanX: Your comments are appreciated. Due the great quality of your CJ, that you consider mine a great work is such a great honor.
Antomonycat: Yes, I've put a lot of work on the graphical objects and coming from you, who makes extraordinary art works for her MD, I consider it like a great flatter.
art128: Thanks for the comment, and now you can see more.
kwakelaar: I'm glad you liked the metro network.


Well, and now, as I promised, here it is.
But before I start I want to give thanks to Kelis. Without him this update would lose all its essence. I would have been able to make it, but it would have been the saddest thing that you can find on Earth.
And a note before you starts to read. Note that it is wrote as if it was a documentary, so imagine the voice in off of the documentaries of the History Channel when you read it.

New Bordeaux is nowadays, a cosmopolitan region, with thriving economy, serving as a world reference and above all, a multicultural region. Mosman, its capital, receives in its streets and buildings people of all imaginable races, cultures, religions and languages, and more. Diversity is one of the strengths of New Bordeaux, but has not always been the case. For centuries, only a culture inhabited these lands that bathe the Strait of Georgia. How was New Bordeaux before of us?
Eyk Gregson, ecologist and anthropologist of the Ryde-Parramatta University, believes that he has the answer. Gregson has devoted the last ten years of his career to develop the New Bordeaux Origins project, a project which aims to show the world how New Bordeaux was before the arrival of Europeans, in particular the area on which Mosman is seating.

<<I want to show the grandiosity of nature either when it works with all intact parts in a place where nobody usually think that there was any nature. Before its hills were flattened and its wetlands asphalted, Mosman was a special territory with wild enormous cedars, elms and oaks, brackish marshes, streams, and meadows where black bears, moose or beavers run freely: "one of the most pleasurable lands where one can walk on" according to Paul Leclercq, the New Bordeaux founder. Along the length of the newbordeauxian coastline abounded rocks and small beaches where the penutians got gorge of oysters and clams. More than 105 kilometers of rivers and streams flowed throughout the territory, many of which today doesn't exist, and in most of them lived one or two beavers>>.

Gregson conceived the New Bordeaux Origins project one afternoon of 1999, after buying an illustrated book with historical maps of the city. He had been hired by Ryde-Parramatta University as a professor in Ecology and had just installed in Mosman and felt curiosity about the evolution of the city.

<<Mosman's landscape is so transformed, that makes you think about what was there before. In this city sometimes you can't see, apart from people, a few plants and perhaps some dogs, no other living being. How has that come to be?>>.

A map in particular drew his attention: a precious colored engraving from 1809 or 1810 showing the hills, water currents and marshes, paths, gardens and farms ranging from Darling Harbor, something that could not be seen on any another map of the time. More than three meters long by two wide, the map was created by cartographers of the neobordeauxian militia during the conflict with the British. The map showed the topography of Mosman with unusual wealth of details because the neobordeauxian officials, probably Paul Leclercq and Antoine Prendregast, needed all that information to plan the Darling Harbor defense. For Gregson represented a unique opportunity to eliminate the skyscrapers and the asphalt of the city and see, at least in part, its original landscape.
What would happen, he wondered, if he placed a grid of the current Mosman streets on the engraving of the 19th century? Should be any match? To find out, he made weekend  expeditions to check whether the places indicated on the map still existed.
For example, the Carrion Rocks in Shatams Head, which haven't been moved nor a millimeter since the 19th century. Since the rocks can be both locate on the map of the 19th century as in the current street map of the city, Gregson could put a virtual pushpin on both maps, check the reading of the GPS location and add it to a digitized version of the old map. Once fixed a few points, the rest of the process was breeze. Knowing what was there and its exact place, all with a probability error of a block, was a piece of cake.

But how was actually the old landscape? Thanks to the map we know the position of the streams, marshes, wetlands, etc. And with what species? We know that the peninsula of Rushcutters was populated by a magnificent forest and very few clearings, always according to the map of 1809, but the map didn't reveal the type of trees it was composed. To do this, we must again seek responses near the Carrion Rocks in the Jericho National Park.

<<The park is an excellent example of how it was the peninsula 200 or 300 years ago. It is a piece of the peninsula that remains unchanged, as the Innwood Hill Park in New York, but in Mosman. Here we can find red cedars. It is a very common species in New Bordeaux and there are still many outside Mosman, but diversity is so large in our region that if it is not for this small piece of virgin land, we could not know what exactly was in Rushcutters>>.

Therefore we know that both Shatam and Rushcutters, the two districts that make up the Rushcutters peninsula were populated by an immense Western red cedar forest. But there were only trees? What we know thanks to historical documents, and for the same map, the witnac, a tribe of the penutian nation or culture, inhabited almost the whole New Bordeaux. Its presence in the peninsula was very small and according to the map only two clans of the tribe lived in it.

<<Their position were quite close to the Carrion Rocks, sacred rocks to the witnac, so taking into account that most penutians settlements were north of the bay, in Ryde or Parramatta, a few in Epcot, and by the names of the clans, marked on the map, we believe that these two settlements could be composed of shamans and guardians of this sacred territory>>.

<<The clan of the sasketchs, meaning in the penutian language "talk with the rocks", was established at the edge of a stream, just in the place where now sits Sim Metro Life Arena, which is very clear evidence of how the landscape has changed. Here was a river, with its small pond, and now everything is asphalt and a basketball court. Surely the saskectchs never arrived to imagine that the river that gave them drinking would disappear in less than two hundred years. They certainly were the spiritual clan to venerate the spirits of the sacred land that was a little more to the West>>. [/align]

<<To a little distance of the clan of the sasketchs, a little to the East, approximately 100 meters, we find the settlement of the Te Teten clan. We don't know safely, but surely this clan was responsible for protecting the sacred lands of the invaders, or simply constituted the secular part of the group between sasketchs and te tetens. Here, where was the settlement of the te tetens, there is today a skyscraper and no trace of the river, a different one from the sasketchs river. There are no more rivers on the peninsula nowadays>>.

And how was the rest of Mosman? We know that the peninsula of Rushcutters was completely covered by a forest of cedars and only had a few inhabitants. But we still have Epcot, Essen, Balmain, Ryde and Parramatta. However, Balmain and Epcot have not changed much. Today much of its forests remain mildly virgin, and according to historical data, Essen featured look very similar. In addition, except a few settlements in Epcot, the rest was desert.

<<Well, I guess that Parramatta makes the difference. This area already was called Parramatta by the witnac before the arrival of Europeans. In penutian language means "land of low hills". The largest concentration of penutians, all of them of the witnac tribe, ware here, at Parramatta>>.

We know, by neobordeauxian historical texts, that the First Nations lived north of the Parramatta Bay and in 1798 settlers reached a formal agreement of coexistence with indigenous peoples, but that less than ten years after they had abandoned lands inhabited during generations.

<<The main clan, or the largest one, was the Otematta, which comes to mean something as "Brothers of the hills". These were settled just where now Prendreborg is, the castle of the Pendergast. In fact, only Prendregast took little years to begin to build the castle after the exodus of the otemmata > >.

The clan of the otematta was the largest of about twenty clans who inhabited the lands of New Bordeaux. The witnac were a tribe disseminated throughout the neobordeauxian map, but almost we could say that the populous otematta was the capital of the tribe since it is believed that here met usually all members of the tribe if they were summoned.

<<The village consisted of three towns, like the districts of a city. In the core resided the heads of the witnac tribe, as well as shamans and possibly the most skilled craftsmen of the clan. This place was certainly the meeting point for all the witnacs either for annual rituals, ceremonies as they could be weddings or funerals and much more. In addition, we believe that it served as the administrative center. Here taught justice, gave orders to the other clans, as a modern City Hall>>.

<<The second core is lying south of the main one. This would be just the place of residence of the majority of the members of the clan and also here should breed workshop minor artisans. Was also the core of the river, which had access to River Oak, which meant that it was the entrance to the village, because surely all members of the tribe belonging to other clans went surfing River Oak, since most of the other towns were on the shores of this river>>.

<<The last core of village of the otematta, its believed that it was inhabited by the younger adults of the clan. Usually, although children were part of the clan or tribe, was when reaching adulthood when they became full members. Surely young people were moved to this part of the village, somewhat isolated from the others, and were forced to fend for themselves, without any adult help>>.

Apart from the clan Otematta, just the piece of land which comprises between the confluence of the Elm and Oak to Oak Lake, which was then a bog, housed three more clans, apart from other two clans that were placed on the opposite shores of the rivers Oak and Elm clans. One of these clans, Mashiik, was located just ten minutes walk from the village of the otematta. To get there from the capital of the witnac, they built a bridge of wood on the Elm River which was later replaced by the Backgate Bridge.

<<Surprising is that the witnac built something like this. If not becomes by historical documents that mention the presence of a wooden bridge prior to settlers just where it is now the stone bridge serving as back door for Prendreborg, we would have never guessed that here there was a bridge of wood, because surely would not be preserved. However, the presence of this bridge and no evidence of more bridges built by the witnac, makes us think that the mashiik should be an important clan for the tribe. Fortunately here is now the Belmore cemetery. About six years ago by 2003 or 2004, a small expansion of the cemetery was made to add new graves, and in the digging the found the remains of three totems>>.

<< One totem is normal, but three totems is already something unusual. We believe that the mashiik had a heavy spiritual importance in the witnac society. A road with a bridge right from the civic center of the tribe, so many totemic figures, are yet not conclusive evidences to indicate that this town was the witnac Vatican, but they are enough to venture to theorize that it was something like that.

But returning to the wild aspect of the territory, how was Parramatta? Also was covered with cedars and rivers as well as the peninsula? Studies indicate there were rivers, but that diversity was greater in Parramatta and the cedars hardly existed here. Since the banks of the River Oak and Elm River are almost intact, we know (and understand why they are name like that) which trees were in the area.

<<Basically elms, oaks, willows... Smaller than the Rushcutters trees, but with a much larger foliage trees. However it would not be the king of the landscape of Parramatta. Unlike the peninsula, here would be green pastures apart from forest, and would then be the mire>>.

<<Where today we have Oak Lake, before there was a mire. Oak Lake was created by the construction of small dams in River Oak and Elm River. However at the time this was a very humid zone, and remains it. The two rivers approached much one to the other and the ground was quite depressed by what part of the river water was going to end there. Stagnated and eventually get dirty. It is a daunting of horror film scene>>.

Ultimately, New Bordeaux is a place where time ago there was a fabulous ecology and culture which, despite its technological backwardness, built bridges. Until today, very few have seen how New Bordeaux was prior to us. Now all we know.

[calibanX]

Wow, you've created an amazingly detailed history of the clans that inhabited the New Bordeaux region prior to the modern civilization it has become. I love the details in those camps, like the fires and the totems. The huts rock too, did you make them?

Geoff

[djvandrake]

A fascinating update!  Very well done. 

[Battlecat]

What an amazingly detailed history!  All the shots look fantastic!

[burgemeestertijn]

Normally I don't look at CJ's. I'm so tired of those 'standard' cj's. But this one is absolutely fantastic. It has been a long time since I saw such a beautifull region. Where do you find the time! Two thumbs up! 

[nedalezz]

My oh my what a great update! It was very interesting reading the history, and you wrote the story so well.

The pictures are a work of art, very unique and very well done. It really looks like 500 years ago, before being touched by the "civilized" world.

Great update!

[kimcar]

Normally I don't look at CJ's. I'm so tired of those 'standard' cj's. But this one is absolutely fantastic. It has been a long time since I saw such a beautifull region. Where do you find the time! Two thumbs up! 

I agree with him or her (sorry) But i feel so stupid to not check your`s before . Very well done . Great christmas scenery for name just one of your great update. I Like the last one very much too . You did the village yourself? and christmas lights is it photoshopping. Sorry i don`t see if you said it? Looking forward for sure  

[RickD]

Wow, this is such a cool idea. And it is in HD 
I am impressed how much thought and effort you put in your MD.

[kelis]

thanks engorn, I like how you used the bat's 

[penguin007]

Very beautiful scenic pictures  there keep up the great work

Will

[Engorn]

Well, sorry for having this MD a little bit on stand-by, but I'm very busy those days. Some answers to make it active...

calibanX:Thank you. No, it wasn't me who made the huts. As I said Kelis made some stuff for me for this update. The huts are part of that stuff.
djvandrake:Than you for stopping to comment.
Battlecat:Than you a lot. Your comment are appreciated.
burgemeestertijn: I'm glad you liked it and I suppose that your comment it is an honor if you don't have the habit of commenting. Time now is nearly all that I have, so there is where I got it.
nedalezz: Thanks, a lot. I'm happy that you think that the story is well wrote. English it's not my first language (neither my second or third), and I'm happy if you believe that it really seems like many years ago. It was my whole intention.
kimcar:Thank you. No, as I answered to calibanX, the villages are Kelis's work. Well, he made the props and I made some small lots, put them together and after I made all the scenery. The Christmas pics; yes, they are made with Adobe Photoshop, as most of the visual stuff I made for this MD.
RickD:Thank you. I work on this MD because I like when people makes any comment about it. As any other artist, my intention is to not letting anyone indifferent.
kelis:Thanks to you. Without you this wouldn't have been possible. I still owe you that beer (or anything you want to drink).
penguin007:Thank you.

[ShultzCity]

Wow, great work!! Love the small villages, and especially those dense forrests! I would have to see the most realistic I have seen. Congrats 

[kwakelaar]

What a detailed and interesting update, great work on the settlements of the native population.

[antimonycat]

Fantastic work! I don't think I've seen anything like that - the swampy area and village has a lot of character and your use of mist completes it. Greatly hoping to see more soon!

[io_bg]

Looks great, especially the photoshopping! Looking forward to more!