Popping the question: Marry or be burned Monsieur Hamelin wasnt looking for romance, he only had eyes for orchids. Thats what had brought him to Madagascar in 1893, and thats how, by and by, he ended up with the brother of a local chief as his guide. Off they went into the rainforest but only Hamelin returned, reported the Liverpool Echo, as his aide was mauled to death by a wild beast. Its fair to say the chief was less than impressed with this turn of events, and gave our horticultural hero two options - marry his brothers grieving widow, or be greased and burnt. Hamelin didnt need long to choose life, but added a canny clause to the deal - that his new brother-in-law closed off his kingdom to all other European orchid-seekers.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:13:45 +0000
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