He didn't mention what it was used for or how--it was like when he put it up
to my ear, there was something mystical inside.  He did say they were very
significant in (I assume) Hindu religion, but went no further to
explain--only looked at me quizzically (sp?) not believing I didn't know
about it.
 
Carol
-----Original Message-----
From: Harry G. Lee, MD <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, April 23, 1999 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: Sacred Indian shells?
 
 
>Dear Carol et al.,
>
>I think you've captured a functional definition of left- and
>right-handedness here.  You should have asked your correspondent why he
>didn't use his left hand for this gesture.
>
>Harry
>
>
>At 11:10 PM 4/22/99 -0400, you wrote:
>>Harry,
>>
>>Would this pouring liquid from this shell with the right hand explain why
>>they call it a "right handed" shell?
>>
>>Carol
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Harry G. Lee, MD <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 11:09 PM
>>Subject: Re: Sacred Indian shells?
>>
>>
>>>Dear Carol and Bill,
>>>
>>>There is a long and well-studied relationship between Hindu scripture
(and
>>>folklore) related to Turbinella pyrum (Linnaeus, 1758) and its rare
>>>sinistral mutant (about 1:600,000 dextrals fide Hornell, J. 1916.  The
>>>Indian varieties and races of the genus Turbinella.  Mem. Ind. Mus.
>>>6:109-125, 3pls.).
>>>
>>>The ethnoconchology is nicely summarized by Rose, K. 1974. The religious
>>use
>>>of Turbinella pyrum (Linnaeus), the Indian Chank. Nautilus 88(1):1-5.
Jan.
>>>
>>>One often-trivialized characteristic of practical conchology is the
>>facility
>>>of (a human) decanting the liquid contents of a sinistral shell (seldom
>>>available in T. pyrum/ characteristic in Busycon sinistrum Hollister,
1958)
>>>using his right hand (vs. the opposite set-up).  This simple act is
>>>ceremonial in many religions.
>>>
>>>Harry
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>        ----- Original Message -----
>>>>        From: Carol Simpson
>>>>        To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>        Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 8:46 PM
>>>>        Subject: Sacred Indian shells?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        We had a gentleman from India put some packages in my trunk this
>>>afternoon.  He picked up a lightning whelk that was in my trunk, came
>>around
>>>to the window and asked me how much I wanted for it.  Being sort of
>>>dumfounded, I said "Well, it really isn't for sale, but I have some more
at
>>>home I'll give you."  He was in absolute awe of this shell and said in
>>India
>>>they are sacred.  But he would need two of them.  He remarked that they
>>were
>>>"right handed."  When I said they were left handed, he put it up to my
ear.
>>>He said "Do you hear that?"  I promised to get him two whelks, but I
>>thought
>>>he had said something about volutes--he had a thick accent and was a
little
>>>difficult to understand.
>>>>
>>>>        I later thought about the chank, but wondered if anyone ever
heard
>>>of this type of shell being  sacred in India.  It was VERY strange.
>>>>
>>>>        Carol
>>>Harry G. Lee
>>>mailto: [log in to unmask]
>>>Suite 500, 1801 Barrs Street
>>>Jacksonville, FL  32204
>>>U. S. A.    904-384-6419
>>>Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
>>>http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm
>>>
>>>oo  .--.  oo  .--.  oo  .--.
>>> \\(____)_ \\(____)_ \\(____)_
>>>  `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~`
>>
>Harry G. Lee
>mailto: [log in to unmask]
>Suite 500, 1801 Barrs Street
>Jacksonville, FL  32204
>U. S. A.    904-384-6419
>Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
>http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm
>
>oo  .--.  oo  .--.  oo  .--.
> \\(____)_ \\(____)_ \\(____)_
>  `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~` `~~~~~~~`