Posted ByJoao V on December 07, 2001 at 11:34:54:
Dear All,
Hello to all of you again and apologies for my long absence. I have been extremely busy promoting and travelling around the Iberian Penninsula. I am glad to say that Rosh came on the road with the portuguese delegation. I convinced him to search for the Hagi Naktrah in Southern Europe.
Our journey began promisingly: I showed him some of the wonderful caves which suggested that RPS was first played in (Northern) Portugal. Some of the cave pictures showed moves which come close to the Hagi Naktrah, but close examination suggested they were variants with certain weaknesses. Rosh was disappointed but his commitment was not deterred, his appetite for all RPS related is unprecendented as you all know.
Our journey from the North of Portugal then went further north to Galicia in Spain and we turned our attention to Cape Finisterre. There is some evidence from Spanish archeologists that RPS was probably first played there in Spain. Again there were promising signs. Rosh wrote these signs on his notebook, which has so often shown entries close to the Hagi. It has been a learning experience, albeit a cruel one.
Rosh and I then continued to Asturias, next to Galicia in the North of Spain. We went to Oviedo, the capital of that beautiful land and went to a very old church (X century) called SantaMaria del Naranco were monks were known to have played RPS. Some of the paintings on the walls do suggest that other versions of the Hagi were used by these monks. But again there was disappointment, this was not the Hagi.
We hoped that going to the caves of Altamira in Cantabria, next to Asturias would give us more knowledge. But again, as you have correctly guessed, our efforts translated into very little. Rosh was now distraught, and lost morale. He then decided to continue his search in France, where Simpson saw him and then onto Italy. I have not heard from Rosh in the last 3 weeks.
Hope this is of help,
Joao