Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Sadharghat

In the morning, the sky remained heavily clouded with a damp (humedo) wind blowing and occasional showers of rain. Such wet and gloomy days are disagreeable, but in the afternoon the sun came out, and since then it was delightful.

The river banks were covered with peaceful groves and the dwellings of men were secluded and full of beauty. The river winds in and out, neither lazy nor fussy, and the girls come for water and sit by the side, rubbing their bodies to a glowing freshness with their moistened towels.

Gypsies still live in bamboo frameworks covered over with split bamboo mats and pieces of cloth. Their life is lived in the open, and they only creep under these shelters at night, to sleep hunddled together: no home anywhere, no lanlord to pay the rent.

They are bluish dark but good looking, with fine and strongly buildt bodies, like country folk from the mountains. Their women are handsome, and have tall, slim figures. They have free and easy movements and natural independent airs. They still split bamboos, weave baskets and gesticulate violently with arms right in the face giving in strident tones a piece of their mind.

Other women also stand in the water, bathing or washing clothes in their dripping saris, with veils pulled well over their faces. Children, covered all over with clay splash water on each other.

In the evening, the sky was clear, solitude reigned and the sustained chirp of the cicadas was the only sound.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Matthew said...

Not that I mind, but why the switch to English?

6:41 PM  
Blogger manuelr said...

well... I keep on receiving requests from our english speaking friends to add something they can understand. I dont plan to completely switch but to insert something from time to time. Manuel.

7:36 PM  

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