It is that time of the year again! The time when the lush green rice fields
start flowering.....
........ and the wild boars start their nocturnal visits.
So it is time for our ‘Watch-duty’ to guard
the fields from the boars. This time we
are better prepared. Unlike last year when we pitched a tent under the arecanut trees, this year we have constructed a proper
‘Machan’ in the centre of the fields. Our paddy area is divided into 4 sections
with a narrow ridge and the machan is built right in the centre. So you can walk on the ridge and climb onto the machan.
The machan is constructed in a very simple manner. Four
pillars holding up a cement sheet, a set
of slightly flexible bamboos on the top making a curved ‘tunnel-roof’. A tarpaulin sheet tied securely over it to
prevent the rain – but the sides are open and am really not sure how it will
hold up if the rain gets really heavy. So far we have got good weather and
clear skies.
It is a precarious climb on the ladder and don’t you dare to
drop your torch or anything else, for it will fall directly into 6 inches of
slush.
We carried a heap of blankets one on the cement sheet and the rest to
layer on top as the weather gets really chill at night. The tent used to be much warmer, but here we
are more open to the elements. And is it
noisy here! Whether it is the standing
water in the fields that attract different kind of crickets or cicadas, or whether
the dense canopy of trees subdued the noise last time, this time I can no
longer call this noise ‘musical sounds of the night’ This is more like being surrounded by 4
television sets each one playing ‘News Hour’ in 4 different languages. I’m convinced that in the field on my right
there is a whole lot of political bickering happening. There is a conspicuously different, loud, solo
chatter, and before it stops, it gets drowned by a wave of dissenting voices
that pass over the entire field. Before the wave ends, Mr. Loud-solo yells
again and then the wave begins! What a cicadian
cacophony!
And as usual Johnny accompanies us. The very first night
itself, we had just walked through the farm and climbed onto the machan, when we
had a boar-sighting. Johnny started what we now call his ‘Be warned, there is a
boar approaching’ bark. We shone the torch in the direction of Johnny’s gaze
and there it was! The minute the circle of light fell on him, he started
running. It was a thrill to see the boar run in full view from the safety of
the machan. He seemed to have vaulted over the compound wall on our right and
when we shone the torch on him, he ran straight ahead, so it was quite a run
before he reached the impenetrable darkness of the forest which was on our left.
Our cosy perch gave us a vantage view as he raced through the arecanut trees in
a distinctly straight line. Local wisdom
says that a boar cannot change his direction easily, so, if ever chased by a
boar, dodge him - left and right, side step him neatly and duck behind a tree......that is if you are
nimble of foot and quick of thought. Fortunately we did not have to do anything like that, we
were lucky to have climbed onto the machan before the boar vaulted over the
wall.
 |
| A day-time vantage view of the areca palms through which the boar ran! |
But although we are at a height now, I had felt much more
secure in our old all-weather tent. Here the wind whipped up a frenzy, the
tarpaulin sheets flapped with all their might, the chill really got to me and
the cicadas decided to sing with the wind.
Should we opt for the tent again? Oh no, I wouldn’t trade the
thrill of sleeping on the machan. The constant fresh breeze, the sight of the
swaying arecanut tree tops with the twinkling stars overhead on one side and
the moon lit view of all the neighbouring fields guarded by the shadows of the
distant hills on the other, continues to lure us right until harvest time!
