Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3199
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 12th Feb 2023
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A bit tougher Sunday puzzle of Dada that was still an enjoyable one to solve. I now feel happy to present to you a full review of the same and would be delighted to have your worthwhile feedback and comments.
I learnt from the net that pitcher, the answer to the clue of 19a, and picture are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation, but not identical. They are, in fact, easily confused words. However, some Americans tend to skip the ‘c’ in picture, making the two words sound identical when they were not intended to sound that way.
I was aware of the meaning of the American English idiom ‘bury the hatchet’, the answer to the clue of 8d, since my childhood. The idiom meant to make peace, to renounce enmity or become reconciled. But the net now taught me that there was a real story behind the origin of the idiom that is an allusion to the figurative or literal practice of squirrelling away weapons whenever there was cessation of hostilities among the native Americans in the Eastern United States. It specifically concerns the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy and in Iroquois custom in general. Weapons were to be buried or cached in times of peace. An old Iroquois legend tells of two leaders who convinced the five great nations of their time, namely, the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca, to stop fighting and form a confederacy. As a symbolic gesture towards peace, they would bury their weapons under the roots of a large, white pine tree and an underground river washed them away. That reminded me about Hiawatha, whom I studied when I was eight years old. The Europeans came to know about this ceremonial practice that existed long before their settlement in the Americas as late as 1644, through a translation of Jesuit Relations, a monumental work by Thwaites who opines, “Proclaim that they wish to unite all the nations of the earth and to hurl the hatchet so far into the depths of the earth that it shall never again be seen in the future.” An actual hatchet-burying ceremony is mentioned in the writings of Samuel Sewall as thus: “I write to you of the Mischief the Mohawks did; which occasioned Major Pynchon’s going to Albany, where meeting with the Sachem they came to an agreement and buried two Axes in the Ground; one for the English another for themselves; which ceremony to them is more significant and binding than all Articles of Peace, the hatchet being a principal weapon with them.” The idiom emerged in England in the 17th century. In the 1785 Treaty of Hopewell, Colonel Benjamin Hawkins wrote: “The hatchet shall be buried forever.” In 1761, a ‘Burying-the-Hatchet Ceremony’ took place that brought to an end more than seventy-five years of war between the British and Mi’kmag tribe in Nova Scotia.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Cosmetic, too bold? (5)
LIPPY: Double colloquial definition; the second being an adjective meaning having a tendency to talk back in a cheeky or impertinent manner that leads to the first a noun referring to a lipstick that is a substance made into a small stick, used for colouring the lips
4a Regal power in old money? (5)
CROWN: Double nounal definition; the first denoting sovereignty or imperial or legal power and the second referring to an old usually silver British coin worth five shillings
10a Travel price OK, I’m off! (8)
FAREWELL: A charade of FARE (travel) as the price of passage, journey or travel on public transport and WELL (OK) as an adjective meaning in good health or in satisfactory condition or circumstances guides to the definition of an expression said by someone who is just leaving or a wish of well-being at parting
11a Dancing made us merry (6)
AMUSED: An anagram (dancing) of MADE US takes to the definition of an adjective meaning pleasantly entertained
12a Instruction more available? (6)
LESSON: The definition of a period of instruction, learning or teaching is arrived at from a situation that is MORE OFF from work and hence more available, or, as a corollary, LESS ON or less occupied or working and hence less unavailable
13a All a little tiresome, very onerous (8)
EVERYONE: Part of or that is hiding inside (a little) [TIRESOM]E VERY ONE[ROUS] guides to the definition of a pronoun used to refer to all the people in a particular group or all the people in the world
14a Boozer in this location — ha! (2,5)
SO THERE: A charade of SOT (boozer) as a habitual drunkard and HERE (in this location) as an adverb meaning in, at or to this place or location leads to the definition of an exclamation used to express surprise, suspicion, triumph etc
16a Where knuckles are accessible (2,4)
ON HAND: Double definition; the first referring to the position of the joints in the hand that is where the fingers bend, especially where the fingers join on to the main part of the hand and the second a phrase meaning available or present, especially for a specified purpose
17a Reportedly thickened liquid in wellspring (6)
SOURCE: A homophone (reportedly) as heard by the audience of SAUCE (thickened liquid) as a thick liquid that is eaten with food to add taste to it takes to the definition of a spring or fountain head from which a river or stream issues
19a Jug sketch that’s discussed? (7)
PITCHER: PICTURE (sketch) as a visual representation of a person, object or scene as a painting, drawing or sketch that is (that’s) served as a near-homophone (discussed) takes to the definition of a jug or a vessel, usually of earthenware, for holding or pouring liquids
21a All Greek to me, Socratic word puzzle (8)
ACROSTIC: An anagram (all Greek to me) of SOCRATIC takes to the definition of a poem, word puzzle or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words
22a Fall for a girl from Chicago? (6)
AUTUMN: A cryptic definition of the season of the year between summer and winter during which temperatures gradually decrease that is otherwise known as fall in the United States which a girl from Chicago that is in that country would refer to
23a Pictures came in, doctored (6)
CINEMA: An anagram (doctored) of CAME IN takes to the definition of the motion pictures taken collectively or as an art
24a Lovely job of a trained setter, perhaps? (8)
FETCHING: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to the act of going for and then bringing back something that perhaps a well-trained dog would do as a job, exercise or play that leads to the first an adjective meaning attractive, appealing or captivating
25a Crisps for example ending in bin, bag sandwiches (5)
SNACK: The terminal or ending letter (ending) in [BI]N that SACK (bag) as a large bag made of coarse fabric puts in (sandwiches), arriving at the definition of a light meal, say, thin slices of potato fried until crisp, that is eaten in a hurry or in a casual manner
26a Alloy, bargain by the sound of it (5)
STEEL: STEAL (bargain) as a thing bought or offered for sale much more cheaply than is usual or expected serving as a homophone heard by the audience (by the sound of it) takes to the definition of a hard, strong grey or bluish-grey alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used as a structural and fabricating material
Down
2d I identify ship that’s disorderly (2,1,4)
IN A MESS: I from the clue, NAME (identify) as to identify correctly by uttering a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed or referred to and SS (ship) as the abbreviation for steamship that is a ship propelled by a steam engine take to the definition of a phrase meaning disorderly, untidy or lacking organisation
3d Pure tears with novel that’s extraordinary — read on! (6,4,4)
PLEASE TURN OVER: A combo of PURE TEARS and (with) NOVEL that is (that’s) subject to an anagram (extraordinary), arriving at the definition of the full form of the abbreviation PTO that is used at the bottom of a page of text to show that there is more information to view or read on its other side
5d Free mask turned up in green, edges frayed (7)
RELIEVE: The definition of a verb meaning to free someone from a tiresome responsibility is arrived at from VEIL (mask) as a thing that serves to cover, conceal or disguise taken upwards (turned up) as a reversal in the down clue that is placed inside (in) [G]REE[N] from the clue having its outermost letters (edges) taken out or removed (frayed)
6d How a table moves about in seagoing vessel (9)
WHALEBOAT: An anagram (moves about) of HOW A TABLE leads to the definition of a long, narrow boat sharp at both ends once used in the pursuit of whales or a similar boat carried on a large vessel as a life-boat
e
7d Average figure, miserly (4)
MEAN: Triple definition; the first being a noun referring to the average of a given set of values denoting their equal distribution, the second a verb meaning to intend something to occur or be the case and the third an adjective denoting not generous or unwilling to give or share things, especially money
8d Find peace agreement, or use tomahawk? (4,3,7)
BURY THE HATCHET: A cryptic definition of an idiom meaning to give up enmity and agree to make peace that also serves as an allusion to the figurative or literal practice of hiding weapons whenever hostilities ceased among the native Americans during the Middle Ages is arrived at from a contra-suggestion ‘or use tomahawk’ (hatchet) as a North American Indian war-axe, if interested in continuing the war
9d Write name on flag (6)
PENNON: PEN (write) as to write, indite or commit to paper, N (name) as the abbreviation for name and ON from the clue take to the definition of a long, narrow flag or streamer attached to a lance
15d Tiredness in sense organ requires one to go in ten years after treatment (9)
EYESTRAIN: The definition of a noun referring to tiredness and irritation of the eyes as a result of too much reading, looking at a computer screen etc needs (requires) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one to get inside (go in) TEN YEARS that was subject to an anagram (after treatment)
18d Blooming thing, monster went behind tree? (6)
ORCHID: ORC (monster) as a mythological fierce sea-monster who perhaps HID (went behind tree) or kept out of sight or prevented from being seen by going behind the tree serving as a charade that guides to the definition of any plant or flower, that is a bloomer, of the Orchidaceae or Orchideae family
19d Still water? (7)
PACIFIC: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to the Pacific Ocean that is the largest body of salty water between Asia and America that leads to the first an adjective meaning peaceful in character or intent or free from disturbance
20d Italian church book (7)
ROMANCE: A charade of ROMAN (Italian) as a citizen of modern Rome that is the capital of Italy and CE (church) as the abbreviation for Church of England leads to the definition of a piece of romantic fiction, particularly as a literary genre or a book or film dealing with love in a sentimental or idealised way
22d Singer in Turandot lapped up (4)
ALTO: Part of or hiding inside [TURAND]OT LA[PPED] that is going upwards (up) as a reversal in the down clue is the word defining an adult male singer having the highest singing voice
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 13a, 14a, 21a, 22a, 24a, 2d, 3d, 5d, 8d, 15d and 19d; 22a being the best among the chosen ones. Thanks to BD for the encouragement, to Dada for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.
3*/4*…
liked 24A “Lovely job of a trained setter, perhaps? (8)”