At this time of the day, the workers would be at work and would only arrive home at four in the evening. Therefore the place was deserted and totally quiet.
We walked slowly under the tree looking sheepishly because we all knew where the boy had hung himself. We would all look up at the tree half expecting to see the figure swinging to and fro. But there was none. Only the slight movement of the tiny leaves on the branches brought relief to us.
This tree had provided us a lot of fun and usefulness. I used to spin my tops under the tree. There were many afternoons when I had played alone here when the others were not around. They would usually help their parents tending to the goats or cows or vegetable plots. So I was usually alone.
It gave me a place of solitude and peace. It was strange though; to think of it now, because I had never thought about the incident when I was alone there. My neighbours had frequently warned me not to play there too often especially during the evenings or nights.
I had always punctured the bark of the tamarind tree to get the sap from it. It is white and looks like the latex of rubber trees. When the sap starts oozing from the puncture, I would dab the end of a string that was used to wind around a top. Then I would rub the end of the string so that the sap when hardenend prevented the end of the string from fraying. This was an ingenious idea.
I was not the only one who used the sap for the same purpose. Many of the boys including my buddies did the same. In fact I had learnt this skill from them.
I can bet many youngsters today do not know about this little skill.
The shade under the tree was perfect for my little games; marbles, top spinning, cards and even hide and seek. This spot was not a popular place to many de to the spooky tales surrounding it.
The fruit, the tamarind was also much sought after by the little boys and girls around the area. The locals would throw pieces of wood, aimed at the fruits hanging from the branches. Once hit, the fruits would drop onto the ground. The ripe ones would be gathered and eaten. The unripe ones would be left scattered under the tree. Often when I arrived there, I would see the unripe fruits scattered all over the place with the tiny green leaves. Then I would know that some kids had been there before. These kids never lingered very long there. Once they had enough of the fruits, they would run helter due to the fear of the place.
I had also done the same; aiming a piece of wood at the fruits and hitting them. Once they had dropped to the ground, I would select the ripe ones and leave the young green sour ones. The ripe ones had a hard brown shell. Once the shell had been opened, the flesh gives of a sour smell. The taste is sour, a kind of sweet fragrant sour that was quite tantalizing.
We were advised not to consume too much as it causes a stomachache. In fact consuming too much of anything is bad to our health.
We walked slowly under the tree looking sheepishly because we all knew where the boy had hung himself. We would all look up at the tree half expecting to see the figure swinging to and fro. But there was none. Only the slight movement of the tiny leaves on the branches brought relief to us.
This tree had provided us a lot of fun and usefulness. I used to spin my tops under the tree. There were many afternoons when I had played alone here when the others were not around. They would usually help their parents tending to the goats or cows or vegetable plots. So I was usually alone.
It gave me a place of solitude and peace. It was strange though; to think of it now, because I had never thought about the incident when I was alone there. My neighbours had frequently warned me not to play there too often especially during the evenings or nights.
I had always punctured the bark of the tamarind tree to get the sap from it. It is white and looks like the latex of rubber trees. When the sap starts oozing from the puncture, I would dab the end of a string that was used to wind around a top. Then I would rub the end of the string so that the sap when hardenend prevented the end of the string from fraying. This was an ingenious idea.
I was not the only one who used the sap for the same purpose. Many of the boys including my buddies did the same. In fact I had learnt this skill from them.
I can bet many youngsters today do not know about this little skill.
The shade under the tree was perfect for my little games; marbles, top spinning, cards and even hide and seek. This spot was not a popular place to many de to the spooky tales surrounding it.
The fruit, the tamarind was also much sought after by the little boys and girls around the area. The locals would throw pieces of wood, aimed at the fruits hanging from the branches. Once hit, the fruits would drop onto the ground. The ripe ones would be gathered and eaten. The unripe ones would be left scattered under the tree. Often when I arrived there, I would see the unripe fruits scattered all over the place with the tiny green leaves. Then I would know that some kids had been there before. These kids never lingered very long there. Once they had enough of the fruits, they would run helter due to the fear of the place.
I had also done the same; aiming a piece of wood at the fruits and hitting them. Once they had dropped to the ground, I would select the ripe ones and leave the young green sour ones. The ripe ones had a hard brown shell. Once the shell had been opened, the flesh gives of a sour smell. The taste is sour, a kind of sweet fragrant sour that was quite tantalizing.
We were advised not to consume too much as it causes a stomachache. In fact consuming too much of anything is bad to our health.
