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description of swidden fields and path |
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It was about one o'clock when we continued on our way which now went uphill with few interruptions. Soon a large new clearing opened before us, tall trees were stretching their naked cut arms against the deep blue sky across which now white puffy clouds were moving. The Punkhung people have cleared an entire mountain slope and our path winds itself upwards right through this shadeless chaos of (137) fallen tree trunks and dried branches waiting to be burnt. In the distance we can see a pair of hornbill birds flying over the forest. All around there is green wilderness. Only here the earth appears naked and brown, robbed of its blanket. From the distance such a freshly cleared hill slope looks as though it has mange. |
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When we stepped back into the forest we groan up the steep path. It already is extremely hot and I can think with dread what this trail must be like in July. Finally we reached the height where some Punkhung boys are expecting us with madhu. After a few sips I pass my chunga on to Monda whereupon he pulls out his dao and neatly cuts off the area where my mouth has touched. |
