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down through the rice fields |
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The field is directly adjacent to the trail to Wanching and is therefore easy to reach. On the whole, rich people tend to use the most conveniently placed of their fields for themselves and lease the others. Sometimes they even rent a field close by from a less wealthy man in order to save themselves the long walk to the fields. However, nowadays Shankok also uses a field way down on the path to Chingtang for which access is steep and long. Hardly has the rice planting been finished when already the weeds start sprouting. Shankok says that he can hardly keep up with his ten fields. (17) So far weeding has not started yet and only a few people have built their field huts. To the right and left of the trail there are old jhum fields as well which were not cleared this time, but the underbrush of which had caught fire from neighbouring fields and burnt down almost completely. As Wakching has much land this is not taken seriously and no fine is imposed onto the careless neighbours. Now the children collect firewood here which has the advantage over forest wood that it already is dried out. |
