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The Stop
The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a domesticated species of rodent belonging to the Caviidae family. There are several breeds of guinea pigs, usually grouped by coat texture and the length of their hair. The colour of their coats is variable, ranging from white, cream, tan, reddish, chocolate brown or black to a combined pattern. Small, sociable and ‘chatty,’ they arrived in Europe in the 16th century and since the 1800s have been popular as pets. Today, they are considered good first pets for children.1
Domesticated in Peru over 3000 years ago, the modern breed of what most people think of as the ‘guinea pig’ does not exist in the wild.2 In South America at this time, humans were becoming less nomadic and more agricultural, and guinea pigs were kept and bred for food by various peoples living along the Andes from northwestern Venezuela to Chile. Even today, guinea pigs are a sustainable food source in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Though some live longer, most guinea pigs live for 5-6 years. They are highly social animals; wild species of guinea pigs (cavies) live in close family groups ranging from 5-10 members, with several groups living in close proximity to form a colony.3 They have well-developed senses, including the ability to see in partial colour and are able to see above and behind themselves due to the placement of their eyes. Sleeping for only short periods at a time, they are active for up to 20 hours each day. They require a high fibre diet which must be supplemented with vitamin C as they lack the enzyme required to synthesise this vitamin and can only store it for short periods. As a partial solution to this, guinea pigs perform a digestive process called caecotrophy in order to extract as many nutrients from their food as possible: in addition to their normal excrement, they regularly produce a special dropping in which unabsorbed nutrients are concentrated. Eating these droppings allows maximum consumption of the nutrients.4
The origin of the name guinea pig is unclear. One theory holds that ‘guinea’ came from its price (one guinea) in 16th and 17th century England, though another theory maintains it came from the animals being shipped to European markets after first being transferred to ships in ports in Guinea. Still another theory is that the name comes from the mispronunciation of the word Guiana, the region where some of the animals were collected, and yet another possibility is that it refers to the class of transatlantic slave ships - the Guineamen - on which they were transported. Less contentiously, it is generally agreed that the ‘pig’ part of the name originated with Europeans - as a result of comparing both its squeaks and the taste of its cooked flesh to a pig.
The term guinea pig is also used to refer to a subject of scientific exploration. Beginning in the 17th century, guinea pigs have been used in innumerable scientific experiments - from vivisection in the earliest days to use as laboratory animals for studies of anatomy, nutrition, genetics, toxicology, pathology, serum development and many, many other research programmes. However, due to the work of many advocates,5 the use of guinea pigs in research has declined dramatically in the 21st century, meaning pet is now their primary role in Western societies.
The Detour
Today’s Detour is to a translation of an account of a state dinner given by Czar Vasili III of Muscovy in 1526. Taken from the diaries of a diplomat, the account is one of utter luxury/decadence - the main course was swans served on solid gold plates - and recognises the political nature of bread and salt. After dinner, each ambassador was returned to his rooms, accompanied by a courtier with the sole job of ensuring - as a matter of hospitality - the ambassador got totally drunk. It’s a well-presented article, but scroll through the Latin and read the English. It’s a snapshot of a completely different world.
The Autocrat of the Dinner-Table
The Book
Today’s book is Jim Dodge’s Stone Junction. Though the novel was originally published in 1990, I only discovered it in 2005 when reading through a website dedicated to Thomas Pynchon.6 Notoriously media-silent, a Pynchon recommendation for a book is rare - but even rarer is an introduction.7 In the one he wrote for Stone Junction, Pynchon describes the novel as an ‘outlaw epic for our own late era of corrupted romance and defective honour …. Like being at a non-stop party in celebration of everything that matters. Here is American storytelling as tall as it is deeply felt, exuberant with outlaw humour and honest magic.’ From the back: ‘Starting with his mother’s ‘roundhouse’ right to a nun’s jaw, Stone Junction is a modern odyssey of one man’s quest for knowledge and understanding in a world where revenge, betrayal, revolution, mind-bending chemicals, magic and murder are the norm. With jaw-dropping scope, a stiletto-sharp wit and an array of utterly bizarre characters, Jim Dodge has woven a mesmerising and age-defining tale. Stone Junction is both stomach-clutching hilarious and heart-rendingly sad - but always utterly compelling.’
There’s no question that it’s a weird book, but it’s a great story and one I’d recommend (I have once or twice) if you’re in that sort of mindset.
It’s difficult to find a contemporary review of Stone Junction - the New York Times archive has a photo of the actual article, but it’s behind a paywall. So, here is an article about Jim Dodge from The Guardian in 2002 - it gives a good flavour:
The Magician of Ducks and Outlaws
Remember: You can buy Stone Junction at Amazon, but you can also get it from your local bookstore or library. And that’s better for everyone.
The Sounds
All of today’s songs have been chosen because they fit the personalities and backstories I’ve given our two guinea pigs over the last four years.8 ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ is a brilliant track from 1968 with particularly outstanding production: for proof, just listen to the cymbal at 1:43. The CAN track is one of my many favourites by this band, and is used to great effect in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film version of Pynchon’s Inherent Vice. ‘Femme Fatale’ is a standout track from The Velvet Underground, ‘Autumn Sweater’ is probably my favourite by Yo La Tengo and the Morphine track just sums it all up.
The Thought
Today’s Thought is a quotation from Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie. In an interview with The Guardian,9 she made a comment I found very interesting as I’ve rarely been anywhere close to a major show’s stage:10
“Playing to thousands of people is … daunting, but you get used to it in the end. After the first 20 rows they all disappear anyway.”
Indeed.
If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below. Please note: to leave a comment, you need to create a profile with Substack - this prevents anonymous commenting.
And that’s the end of this stop - I hope you enjoyed a brief diversion from your regular journey!
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Until the next stop …
Sources for this Stop are RSPCA Guinea Pigs and Guinea Pig (Britannica)
Which - genuinely - is a shame, as I would pay good money to see a muddle of guinea pigs in the wild.
A group of guinea pigs is usually called a herd. However, two other collective nouns are ‘muddle’ and ‘blessing.’ As we only have two guinea pigs (which is hardly a herd) and they are - at the very least - agnostic, I find ‘muddle’ the most appropriate term.
As they eat their own faeces, they have the added - albeit dubious - distinction of being one of the few coprophagic (literally ‘dung-eating’) mammals. Great word, coprophagic - use it in a sentence today.
Peter Gurney was a strong supporter of guinea pig welfare in the late 20th century. Though he died in 2006, his love of and successful advocacy for the welfare of these animals cannot be overestimated. See: Peter Gurney
The original website - themodernword - disappeared 15 years ago, but returned in November 2021 as shipwrecklibrary. It’s the nerdiest, most complete collection of Pynchonalia online: Shipwreck Library
There are four: Richard Fariñas Been Down So Long It Looks Up to Me, Donald Barthelme’s The Teachings of Don B., Stone Junction and The Road to 1984.
Admittedly, it’s been a very strange time influenced in no small part by the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, but that’s no excuse as I’ve always done this to every pet I’ve ever had.
The closest I’ve been to a stage was second row at the KISS show in Greenville, SC on 21 April 2000. Skid Row opened, followed by (ugh) Ted Nugent, and then finally KISS. Though the show was fun, my favourite memory of the night was at the very end when to great cheers Paul Stanley shouted ‘Good night, Greenville!’ … while the screen behind him read, ‘Good night, Greenfield.’ It was a perfect, Simpsons-esque ending I’ll never forget.
Found an old copy of Dodge's novel in a used bookstore. It's lovely.