Izava Walk : No more butterflies

A power saw screamed ahead, ng'eee, ng'eee, ng'eeeeee! That is how we used to imitate it. A fairly big eucalyptus tree had fallen across Izava. A mudidi man supervised the work. The machine kept on failing as we talked.

A time like this, the guy said, you'd touch the dark bark of a tree only to realize caterpillars were camouflaged there. Or they'd drop on you as you sat. Many trees seasonally attracted caterpillars and their fate was cutting. There are no beautiful butterflies as when he was a child.

Not only are economical trees water thieves, they have also lead to the disappearance of natural habitat. Monkeys don't chatter on cypress branches. Eagles don't nest on Gravelia branches. You'd shallowly dig for a spring! To access where we stood, you'd need gumboots and a sweater.

A water turned turbine wheeled the grinding stone in what was called Rugina rwa mazi (water miller?). A barrier was raised to direct water inwards and an outlet tunneled ahead. Women's fight with isio at the grinding stone was uplifted. But those who thought the valley was far away did not bother the hustle.

Vasanji is where you have married from, the guy was saying, but recently it is used denote a church member. When you visited vasanji, you were to be very timid and unmoving. The family there would offer a person to 'keep you company.' In reality, the person is to show you the best bush because in-law could be somewhere relieving herself. You were not supposed to greet in law by handshake, save the abomination!

An earthquake was witnessed sometimes ago that he suggests must have altered the ecology. How? I can't tell.