Ichimonwa
Another entry from my journal. Enjoy.
Brian
17 January 2007
Today we woke up and got on the road around 0920. Nathan & I biked to the school at Mafuta A to meet a teacher there, Richard Michello. Ba Michello could be considered the ring leader of "Nathan's Group." They are the most organized and productive of all the villages Nathan works with. Nathan told me they went as far as to hold elections, appoint chairpeople, and form a board.
After waiting for Ba Michello to finish teaching his class, he escorted Nathan & I to a natural feature approximately 9 km from the school by bush path. The feature is located in a depression or bowl with many large rock formations surrounding it. The main attraction is the water located in the lowest point. Asking Ba Michello what this place was called he responded with Ichimonwa, which means 'physical feature.'
Apparently the water is rather deep and is present year round, even during the dry season. While we were looking at the pool, it gave the impression that the water was moving. Bubbles rose constantly like a creature was breathing somewhere below the surface. Nathan & I guessed we were standing in what could have been a collapsed cave at one time. The water hole could then be a portion of an underground lake or stream. What could this place have looked like thousands of years ago?
Ba Michello had several fun & interesting stories/myths to tell about Ichimonwa.
First, he told us that if you took a long stick and pushed it down, deep into the water, you would be able to find the same stick poking out of Funda Stream (approximately 10 km away).
Second, someone from a nearby village cut a large log that was on one side of the water hole and moved it to the other side. Behind this log the person placed debris which was removed from the water hole. The next day the person came back to find the log returned to it's original resting place. Who did it? No one knows.......
Third, we were told that an imprint of a man's foot & a lion's paw used to be found near the water. Unfortunately it had been vandalized and removed some time ago.
Ba Michello described the place as being considered sacred and spiritual to some individuals. Based on the abundant natural beauty of the location, its uniqueness from the surrounding habitats & features, and its constant supply of water I can understand why.
We returned to Nathan's house around 1300. It was a good day and we ended up biking a total of 36 km.
Brian
17 January 2007
Today we woke up and got on the road around 0920. Nathan & I biked to the school at Mafuta A to meet a teacher there, Richard Michello. Ba Michello could be considered the ring leader of "Nathan's Group." They are the most organized and productive of all the villages Nathan works with. Nathan told me they went as far as to hold elections, appoint chairpeople, and form a board.
After waiting for Ba Michello to finish teaching his class, he escorted Nathan & I to a natural feature approximately 9 km from the school by bush path. The feature is located in a depression or bowl with many large rock formations surrounding it. The main attraction is the water located in the lowest point. Asking Ba Michello what this place was called he responded with Ichimonwa, which means 'physical feature.'
Apparently the water is rather deep and is present year round, even during the dry season. While we were looking at the pool, it gave the impression that the water was moving. Bubbles rose constantly like a creature was breathing somewhere below the surface. Nathan & I guessed we were standing in what could have been a collapsed cave at one time. The water hole could then be a portion of an underground lake or stream. What could this place have looked like thousands of years ago?Ba Michello had several fun & interesting stories/myths to tell about Ichimonwa.
First, he told us that if you took a long stick and pushed it down, deep into the water, you would be able to find the same stick poking out of Funda Stream (approximately 10 km away).
Second, someone from a nearby village cut a large log that was on one side of the water hole and moved it to the other side. Behind this log the person placed debris which was removed from the water hole. The next day the person came back to find the log returned to it's original resting place. Who did it? No one knows.......
Third, we were told that an imprint of a man's foot & a lion's paw used to be found near the water. Unfortunately it had been vandalized and removed some time ago.
Ba Michello described the place as being considered sacred and spiritual to some individuals. Based on the abundant natural beauty of the location, its uniqueness from the surrounding habitats & features, and its constant supply of water I can understand why.
We returned to Nathan's house around 1300. It was a good day and we ended up biking a total of 36 km.
posted by nathan at 20:04
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