Sideshow Freak
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 c 1912 rpc TWIN rural DWARF WOMEN MARY TILDA STOWERS circus freak sideshow $22.00 Time Remaining: 7d 4h 37m Buy It Now for only: $22.00 |
 Rare Sea Creature Monster Freak Sideshow Circus Gaff Unusual and Unique $49.99 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 12m |
 AUTH FREAK SIDESHOW BANNEROOAKMAGICODDITYCIRCUSHALLOWEENGAFFPROPFAIRNR $650.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 41m Buy It Now for only: $800.00 |
 LOT OF 2 c1940 ARMLESS LEGLESS ANDIBERT AUTOGRAPH s CIRCUS FREAK SIDE SHOW $45.00 Time Remaining: 10d 15h 29m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Circus Sideshow GIANTSouvenir COLOR Postcard Huge RingFREAK $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 21h 9m |
 SIDESHOW FREAK MAN WITH BIGGEST FEET IN WORLD FRANCISCO RIOS PITCH CARD 1960s $69.50 Time Remaining: 10d 16m Buy It Now for only: $69.50 |
 Circus FREAKSideshow GIANT8X10 photoLOOK $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 34m |
 FLEA CIRCUS Rare Antique FREAK SIDESHOW PHOTO POSTCARD Color Carnival History $29.99 Time Remaining: 7d 21h 46m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 AUTHENTIC FREAK SIDESHOW BANNEROOAKMAGIC ODDCIRCUSHALLOWEENHUGEGAFFREAL $949.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 34m Buy It Now for only: $1,200.00 |
 BETTY WILLIAMS SIDESHOW FREAK PARASITIC RIPLEYS 1934 $36.75 Time Remaining: 23d 1h 39m Buy It Now for only: $36.75 |
 OLD WOOD GIANT SNAKE FREAK SHOW SIGNCIRCUSHAND PAINTBANNERNOT SIDESHOW GAFF $249.00 Time Remaining: 1d 45m Buy It Now for only: $399.00 |
 30s JACK EARLE TEXAS GIANT RING CIRCUS SIDESHOW FREAK $42.99 Time Remaining: 22d 23h 41m Buy It Now for only: $42.99 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW GLASS WALKER BOX PROPFREAKODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $349.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $470.00 |
 RUSSIAN COSSACK MIDGETS Rare Old Circus FREAKS POSTCARD Unique Historic Sideshow $34.99 Time Remaining: 7d 21h 11m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW SHOW TIME CLOCK PROPFREAKODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $199.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 5m Buy It Now for only: $320.00 |
 Sideshow Strange Human Freaks 1940s 4x6 Old Photo $9.77 Time Remaining: 3d 19h 46m Buy It Now for only: $9.77 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW BLADE BOX PROPFREAK SHOWODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $949.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 26m Buy It Now for only: $1,200.00 |
 FREAK SHOW 1950 PICTORIAL BIG TOP CIRCUS SIDE SHOW RINGLING BROTHERS PR AGENT $26.00 Time Remaining: 3d 21h 48m Buy It Now for only: $26.00 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW ELECTRIC CHAIR PROPFREAKODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $949.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 38m Buy It Now for only: $1,200.00 |
 RARE CONEY ISLAND FREAK BEER CIRCUS SIDESHOWSWORD SWOLLOWER CARNIVAL ODD NR $59.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 47m Buy It Now for only: $69.00 |
 Sideshow Strange Human Freaks 1940s 4x6 Reprint Photo $9.88 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 46m Buy It Now for only: $9.88 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW FAT MAN CHAIR PROPFREAKODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $199.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 13m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Human Freaks Alive 4x6 Photo Reprint 1940s $9.88 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.88 |
 RARE AUTHENTIC CIRCUS SIDESHOW BED OF NAILS PROPFREAKODDITYMAGICCARNIVAL $350.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 10m Buy It Now for only: $475.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Poster Human Freaks 1940 4x6 Reprint Photo $9.88 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.88 |
 AUTHENTIC OLD WOODEN FREAK SIDESHOW SIGNCIRCUS4 X 8 HAND PAINTEDWOWGAFF $400.00 Time Remaining: 1d 55m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 ALLIGATOR MAN BEN GREEN Circus Side Show Freak Booklet $50.00 Time Remaining: 4d 12h 19m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 AUTHENTIC OLD WOODEN FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER SIGNCIRCUS4 X 8HAND PAINTEDGAFF $400.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 1m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Human Freaks Alive 4x6 Photo Old 1940s $9.77 Time Remaining: 3d 19h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.77 |
 AUTHENTIC OLD WOODEN FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER SIGNCIRCUS4 X 8 HAND PAINTEDWOW $400.00 Time Remaining: 1d 53m Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 Rare SWORD SWALLOWER Cocktail Fork Holder circus sideshow freak show oddity $85.84 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 52m Buy It Now for only: $85.84 |
 AUTHENTIC OLD WOODEN FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER SIGNCIRCUS4 X16 HAND PAINTEDWOW $749.00 Time Remaining: 1d 57m Buy It Now for only: $900.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Poster Human Freaks 1940 4x6 Old Photo $9.77 Time Remaining: 3d 19h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.77 |
 AUTHENTIC OLD FREAK SIDESHOW BANNERTICKET BOOTHCIRCUSGAFFOOAKCARNIVAL WOW $749.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 27m Buy It Now for only: $950.00 |
 BEARDED LADY MADAME DeLAIT Collection of 5 Original Sideshow Freak postcards $185.00 Time Remaining: 3d 24m Buy It Now for only: $185.00 |
 100 REAL SKIN SHRUNKEN AMAZON HEADSIDESHOW GAFFMUMMIFIEDFREAKHAND MADELK $54.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 31m Buy It Now for only: $65.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Poster Human Freaks 1940 4x6 Reprint Of Old Photo $14.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 33m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 AUTHENTIC FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER OOAKMAGICODDCIRCUS10 X 8HAND PAINTEDGAFF $599.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 19m Buy It Now for only: $749.00 |
 AUTH REAL FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER OOAKMAGICODDCIRCUSHUGE 10 X 8 GAFFREAL $1,000.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 36m Buy It Now for only: $1,200.00 |
 Sideshow Strange Human Freaks 1940s 4x6 Reprint Of Old Photo $14.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 28m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 AUTHENTIC FREAK SIDESHOW BANNER OOAKMAGIC ODDCIRCUSHALLOWEENHUGEPAINTED $749.00 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 30m Buy It Now for only: $850.00 |
 Vermont Sideshow Human Freaks Alive 4x6 Reprint Of Photo Old 1940s $14.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 32m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 SIGNED NUMBERED P T BARNUM PHOTOS MATTHEW BRADY NEGATIVES CIRCUS SIDESHOW FREAK $99.95 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 32m Buy It Now for only: $199.95 |
 RALPH THE ELEPHANT MAN sideshow freak photo postcard $35.00 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 16m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 Carnival Freak PhotoMonkey Girl HusbandCircus Freak Sideshow $6.00 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 2m |
 VINTAGE ANTIQUE CIRCUS CARNIVAL SIDE SHOW FREAK SHOW FLAMING BATONS AND CASE $149.00 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 3m Buy It Now for only: $149.00 |
 Circus Sideshow FLEA CIRCUSPhoto PitchcardCarnival Freak Show $6.00 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 56m |
 SUZY the Elephant Girl Side Show Freak RARE Pitch Flyer $35.00 Time Remaining: 15d 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 Circus FreakTattooed ManSideshow OddityCAPT DONTATTOO Collection $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 11m |
 FREAK SHOW MAN 1968 First Ed by Holtman Side Show Man Harry Lewiston memoirs $48.00 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 54m Buy It Now for only: $48.00 |
 vtg RARE Sideshow freak show photograph postcard Tiny Tim The Fat Boy $0.99 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 14m |
 Capt Ureck German Giant Pitch Booklet 3 Eisenmann Cabinet Photos Sideshow freak $600.00 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $600.00 |
 vtg RARE Sideshow freak show photograph postcard The Frog Boy Half Man $0.99 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 2m |
 Lionel the lionman x 4 postcards freak sideshow circus Ringling vintage $165.00 Time Remaining: 26d 13h 59m Buy It Now for only: $165.00 |
 siamese twins postcards freak sideshow attraction circus extreme orient $89.00 Time Remaining: 3d 15h 44m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
Kochi – City of Charm
For a short stretch of land in the country of continental proportion, the Malabar Coast, presently called Kerala, perhaps deserved mention only on the back pages of history. That was not to be. Long before any part of the country came up for reckoning, this gorgeously verdant land had already had its tryst with the rest of the world. Its spices, particularly pepper, also called black gold, were what the world was after. And if ever history was made by geography, it was indeed here.
For long, Calicut ( now Kozhikode ) and Muziris ( now Kodungallur ) were where mercenary merchants and tricky traders from China in the east of Europe in the west flocked. Till *Cochin emerged some time in the fourteen century, more by accident than by design.
A freak flood virtually destroyed Muziris, both as a port of call and as a centre for trade and commerce, but created a natural harbor in Cochin, besides a backwater system and a new land deposit ( Vypeen Island ), off the mainland. Soon, Cochin rivaled Calicut, till then a major spices market, thanks to the availability of good quality spices at much lesser cot. Thus began the saga of Cochin.
By comparison, Cochin has a shorter history than other ancient places on the Manabar Coast like, say Calicut or Muziris or Kollam. It was originally called Balapuri, a Sanskrit name meaning ` a small town ‘ . How the name changed to Cochin is shrouded in mystery. There are several theories about the name itself. One is that the place was on the banks of a small river ( Kochazhi, in the local parlance ) that connected the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. The name Cochin was thus the derivative of Kochazhi.
There is also the story that Chinese traders ( 14th century ) named it Cochin after a place with the same name back home. Chroniclers like Nicolo Conti ( 15th Century ), Ceason Frederik ( 16th Century ), and Fra Paoline ( 17th Century ), called it Cochym and Cochin.
Interestingly, none of the earlier chroniclers made any reference to Cochin in their otherwise elaborately descriptive narration of their travels on the Malabar Coast. But places like Kollam, Poonithura and Calicut figured prominently in their writings. Which gives credence to the theory of Cochin being a later-day city of importance on the Malabar Coast.
It was, however, a Chinese, Ma Huan, who made the first-ever mention of Cochin. That was in the year of Grace 1409. Ma Huan made as many as seven voyages to the Malabar Coast between 1405 and 1433 in the company of the legendary Chinese sea adventurer Cheng Ho who commandeered the massive fleet of China during the period of the Ming dynasty. According to the Chinese historian Huang Sheng-tseng, Cheng Ho " was nine feet tall and had a girth of ninety inches "
Cochin, by then, must have been a happening place. Else, Nocilo Conti would not have written that "Chinese was a good place to make money in and Cochin to spend it at". The other writers were no less fascinated, though they were taken up more by the utility of the fine harbor and the money-spinning spices that the eye-catching sideshows so typical of a port town.
Early British settlers were equally eloquent about the place and people. Charles Allen Lawson, an official and a writer to boot, for one, was ecstatic in his description of Cochin in an otherwise condescending book titled " British and Native Cochin ", (1861). He wrote about the then prevailing view that " Cochin is the centre of civilization, the modern Cadiz, after seeing which nothing remains in the world worth beholding ".
His description of the land was even more laudatory. " Before us, " he wrote, " is the town, embosomed most costly among tulip, lettuce and coco-nut (sic) trees, the venerable Flagstaff Tower and peculiar Church just peeing above the brown tiled roofs of the white and yellow houses…. Inland, so fas as we can see, stretches a beautifully verdant plain, occasionally relieved by gentle elevations and woody hills; whilst behind, forming a grand termination to so extensive a landscape, are the Southern Ghats, a noble range of mountains, many apparently of great altitude. "
That was Cochin of the late nineteen century. Time, of course, had taken its toll, as much for the good as for the bad. It`s now certainly not the verdant land that it was. The tiled roofs are like the lilies in the meadows now, few and far between, in a landscape dominated by monstrous-looking skyscrapers. And man`s hunger for land had flattened much of the ghats.
The transformation was to expected, given the influx of men and materials from far and near. But what really turned Cochin`s fortunes was the port that was virtually exhumed, as it were, from the waters between the mainland and Mattancherry.
And the man who did the miracle was Robert Bristow, a Briton who, quite justly and justifiably, became a legend in his own lifetime.
While the brain and brawn were that of Bristow`s, the man who thought of the possibility of a port off Cochin was Lord Willinton, the then governor of Madras Province and later India`s Viceroy. There are many detractors, both foreign and native, some of whom even tried to scuttle the project midway through. They didn`t succeed, thanks to the timely intervention of Willinton. A grateful state and people named the island where the port was built after him.
Cochin has never ceased to grow since then. Every about it has changed; its landscape, its skyline, its geographical contours, its lifestyle, et al. Except its old-world charm. And that`s what makes it a city to see. Over to Cochin.
*Cochin is the old name which was later changed to Kochi, as part of Indianising the names of the states, cities and towns
About the Author
Jacob Antony is an eminent analyst and writer in Kerala Travel & Kerala Tourism related topics. He has authored many websites on tour guide for Kerala Tourism and Kerala Tour. Find his more Articles at http://www.keralaholidays247.com
Horror Side Show Freak Flick
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