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methods of harvesting job's tears |
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From Longtang we had to descend steeply into a valley and then on the other side of a river across a ridge where job's tears were growing. The method of harvesting the job's tears in the three villages, Longtang, Younyu and Santok differ strongly from the other Chang. These cut off the ears and then leave them gathered into sheafs to dry against the remaining stubble for about a week. Then the owner goes to his field with a gang, collects at sheafs (57) and threshes them with sticks on an open place. The grains are separated from the chaff and are brought into the granary. In Longtang, Younyu and Santok, the owner and his wife go to the field. One of them reaps the ears, the other pulls of the grains by hand into a basket and throws the empty ears to the ground. It is not defined who does one and who the other. An old rag is tied around the hand to protect it. The grain is carried to the granary the same day. For this way of harvesting the produce is left standing much longer until it has completely dried out. |
