Today I rode to Kihembe in the BatwaMobile with Blackie. We picked up only six Batwa because our front tire was low and we changed the tire with another low tire (we also broke a lug bolt). Nate, P.J., Joseph and Albert took eight pygmies in the Nissan. At a junction near Butogota, Blackie went off on his own to tend to the tires. Nate drove most of us to the tea shelter in Byumba next to the forest and went back for the others.
The BatwaMobile parked next to our Nissan at the Kihembe settlement.
Nate is distracted by a termite mound as Blackie and P.J. start their trek into the Kihembe settlement.
Some typical Batwa structures: a raised goat pen to keep the livestock safe from predators over night and a hut made from sticks and mud covered with a thatched roof.
We needed to limit the number of volunteers. This left a few people very unhappy.
It was a privilege to be selected, not just for the compensation given for their cooperation, but just for the delight of going into the forest. Kihembe is one of the few Batwa settlements that is not located near the forest.
Now for the "Circus Act" to see how many pygmies would fit into one vehicle.
No comments:
Post a Comment