Page 11 - Sealink September 2020
P. 11
gradually sailed through this dense had dinner and the usual round of
jungle into the open forest and we hubble-bubble smoking and the
sighed with relief. It was a ernoon night sentry schedule was fixed by
and lunch was cooked by one of the the head boatman. Two boatmen
members and we enjoyed the meal were awake for three hours and the
of rice, dal, fish curry and mango next team co-ordinated the sentry
pickle. Then the hookah (hubble- and the scary night was over. I had a
bubble) was lighted and it made a good sleep and was fresh for the
merry go round through all the crew next day.
members and we enjoyed the In the morning the breakfast
smoke. Late in the evening the head consisted of puffed rice, honey and
boatman decided to anchor near the tea. The boatmen's daily breakfast
banks of the river for re ring at is rice soaked in water overnight
night.
with honey and tea. This gives the
At dusk the natural scene was heart morning energy, since rice and
throbbing with the birds re ring honey comprises carbohydrates
back into their nests a er a day's toil concentra on at its op mum level.
and the symphonic cry of the birds in The boat gradually cruised deep into
the silence of the jungle chilled the the dense jungle for sundari wood
nerves for the dawn of the and honey. This area is very
mysterious night in the jungle with dangerous as it is here that the
the gers. The cry of the beetle was gers hunt for human beings as it is
more shrilling and it created the the easiest and the tas est prey. As
sensa on of suspense. The the boat penetrated deep into the
boatmen, to break the cape of fear, jungle, darkness prevailed and the
started their local songs with the silence of the jungle with the blend
beat of the drums and it was of the boat's sound and the cries of
reverbera ng through the air birds and animals created a unique
crea ng the nerves of steel and jungle atmosphere. A er one and a
mind without fear. It was a pitch half hours ride, the boat anchored
dark night with only the lamps and the boatmen stepped into the
burning at either end of the boat and marshy jungle to collect honey and
some lamps for the cabin use. We wood. We also went along with