What an interesting theory! Where does this information come from? Leland Torrence wrote: > Michael, > > Not many people know this but.... the Cuban slate was actually brought from > Italy from mines originally started by Romans. The Dutch brought this in > large blocks to then Saint Domingo, nowadays Haiti. It was used as ballast > for the ships. After Rome they would pick up the slaves on the Ivory Coast > and head for the Caribbean. They needed the slaves because the Indigeons > (as the local peoples were then called) were already taking to the mountain > life preferring it to working for the Dutch. Those that stayed became know > as the Arawaks for their skill at "whacking" the blocks and creating perfect > slates. Later still, but way before the American Revolution, some slate > began to make its way by dug-out to what is now Cuba. The locals used this > slate to write down their stories. As with any good lexicographer, they > would then pile the slates for future reference. Unfortunately, every time > it rained the writings would be washed off the slate. Amazingly (maybe > because of its Roman origins) this slate came to have a Latin name: Tabula > Rasa or "clean slate". It is not only used for roofs, but also tables and > has become a very popular material for countertops. > > I find this the most plausible explanation and not very many people know > this. > > Michael said: > > >.Leland I called Joe Jenkins( Author on slate) and he was speculating that > the > >slate in N"awlins comes from Vermont ( Via river to Mississippi > river )..and > >hense the Slate in Cuba comes from Vermont as well .....hmmmm....there is > >slate in both places since before the American revolution...as a southern > >gentleman I would say that "that mule has no teeth"..still looking.....see > >you in Bavaria...M