The Call of the Thunder Dragon (68 page)

39
Falstaff, Shakespeare Henry IV.

40
Viceroy Linlithgow Viceroy of India 1936-1943, the longest serving
viceroy right through a period of civil disobedience and growing
nationalism.

41
U Chit Maung refused to bend to the censorship of his editor he was
fired from The New Light of Burma paper.

42
John 14:12

43
Harbin’s population was bled dry by Jap.;
who blackmailed, kidnapped & evicted businessmen; forcibly
procured businesses & resources, everything from materials to
hotels. Raped, doped and enslaved women; imprisoned & beat men.
Every Japanese Organisation competed for profit or to meet their
own running costs; even running brothels or Opium dens in
competition with each other.

44
Tiger Rag a jazz standard, originally recorded and copyrighted by
the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917.

45
Thanks for the Memory - Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm
Orchestra 1936.

46
Colonel Suzuki better known among the Burmese by his nom de guerre
Bo Mogyo (Commander Thunderbolt) trainer of the ‘Thirty Comrades’
who fought the British, individuals also led independent Burma
after the war.

47
Tendai, derived from Sanron Sect one of six Nara sects imported
from China and Asia. Sanron having presence Assam and Thailand.

48
Kempeitai (Military Police Corps, of the
IJA) it was in fact the Tokubetsu Koto Keisatsu, or Tokkō when
shorted; a police force est. 1911 Japan to control political groups
& ideologies deemed to be a threat to public order. A civilian
counterpart to the military's Kempeitai and Tokkeitai (Corps of
Special Police, the Naval Secret Police).

49
Bushido, the way of the warrior.

50
Moon light on the ruined castle, an old Japanese folk poem; Kojo no
Tsuki one of the most famous Japanese songs ever made. Music
composed in 1901 by Rentaro Taki. It is very possible Falstaff
heard an ‘Enka’, Japanese Jazz version and learned the lyrics.

51
Gaijin, foreigner, or literally any non-Japanese person.

52
It was commonly reported that the Japanese would be unable to fly
well, due at an unbalance resulting from being carried on their
mother’s backs.

53
Quiff 1920’s Slang A promiscuous woman a prostitute.

54
Thalmann Battalion International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War
on the side of the nationalists. Named after the German communist
leader Ernst Thalmann, included approximately 1,500 people, mainly
working class Germans, Austrians, Swiss & Scandinavians. More
than the better known ‘volunteer’ Condor legion of German Luftwaffe
pilots fighting for the fascists.

55
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. ran a virtual monopoly that put many
Burmese out of business. However, the development of waterways and
land played a vital role in the development of Burma. The Flotilla
was put out of business by the Japanese invasion. The British
destroyed all boats and barges to prevent them falling into
Japanese hands. Japan is now a major investor in the Burma economy
and land development; benefits of are seen as both positive and
negative.

56
The Devoted Pilgrim. Categorized as a ‘drukdra’ song a relatively
lively, rhythmic Bhutanese songs. The song describes the devotional
and passionate nature of several figures such as a lama, teacher,
parent and soul mate.

57
Show me the way to go home’ popular song written 1925 under
pseudonymous ‘Irving King’, the English song-writing team James
Campbell and Reginald Connelly. The song is said to have been
written on a train journey from London.

58
Bodos are ethnic and linguistic group in Brahmaputra valley,
northeast India. Bodo (pronounced BORO) in Mech, the language . the
Sino-Tibetan language of the Bodo people.

59
Chitose Ame literally ‘thousand year candy’, is given to children
on rite of passage for 3 or 7 yr girls; or 5 yr boys.

60
Nue, a Japanese chimera with the face of a monkey, torso of a
tanuki (Japanese Raccoon dog, often sculptured with unfeasibly
large testicles), the limbs of a tiger and the tail of a snake.

61
Seccotine Billy Bunter was glued to his chair by Seccotine (1910),
the glue was quoted to be used by RAF and Admiralty [probably for
envelopes] FIRMAS was an alternative for use with hot
components.

62
Battle of Toba-Fushimi, pro-Imperial & shogunate forces fought
each other during the Boshin War. Armies of the Tokugawa shogun
& pro-imperials clashed near Fushimi, Kyoto. It ended with a
decisive defeat for the Tokugawa shogunate; thus shifting political
power & influence to the largely ignored old ‘imperial court’
in Kyoto.

63
Kazoku, Japanese hereditary Lord or title, meaning literally
magnificent/Exalted lineage

64
Arbuda, one of the Buddhist hells. A dark, frozen plain surrounded
by icy mountains and continually swept by blizzards

65
Three O’clock in the Morning Waltz Words by John McCormack and
Dorothy Terriss. A Hit in 1940

66
Naraka Sanskrit word for the underworld

67
Gānchái lièhu
ǒ
literally “raging fire and dry wood,” a young couple on fire!

68
Tsuba in Japanese, Hilt/guard

69
Oh, Shit! Oh hell!

70
Anata wa toroi desu ne. Japanese ‘You’re slow to catch on, aren’t
you?’, toroi- Slow to catch on, doesn’t “get it”

71
Karma – as in Fate

72
Croton Poilanei is a shrub or tree growing up to 10 metres tall.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

73
Punarmilāmah, Sanskrit for goodbye.