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Chapter Eight. The Harvest |
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boys eat food and chew pan at end of weeding feast |
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When at last the boys finished their song, they came into the house, and without paying much attention to their pretty friends, ensconced themselves round the fire. The girls and the people of (79) the house emptied the earthen pots, heaping meat and rice on large wooden dishes. Four boys sat round each dish, and without many words began swallowing huge quantities of food. When they had finished, they made no attempt to entertain their companions with brilliant after-dinner conversation, but devoted their whole attention to chewing the pan leaves and betel nuts that the girls offered them in neat parcels. |
