Hunter Gatherers

We were an organised lot, the bunch of us. We had the gatherers , the youngest kids who'd run to pick up all the fallen fruit, shot down by the throwers or hunters. I was one of the throwers, older, taller and athletic kids, proud of our skill and accuracy with throwing stones at the fruits that hung from the trees. We seldom missed. A good hit rate I remember was atleast 3 fruits for every 5 stones thrown. On good days and on bigger and more endowed trees each throw meant a fruit for sure. Then came the suppliers, usually girls incharge of maintaining the constant supply of stones each thrower needed. The system worked great. By the end of a good session among 5 gatherers, 4 Hunters and 3-4 suppliers we would have atleast 40 to 50 mangoes or a sack full of tamarind or cashews etc. all for the taking. All this in about 2 and a half to 3 hours. Not bad for a good days work.

But the best and the most loved aspect of the fruit gathering system was when 3 or 4 among us went home to their mom's kitchens and either asked for or sneaked away a couple of knives, salt, red chilli powder, pepper and sometimes plates for the ritual that was about to follow. The ritual of the feast.
Every kid would sit glued to their seats as the hunters cut open the fruit into pieces. A mixture of the salt, pepper and red chilli powder was prepared in a piece of paper. Each member of the team would receive a piece of fruit turn by turn, dip it in the spicy mixture and eat their hearts out.

By the end of it we'd all have eaten a fruit and half for sure. The left overs fruits if any, were thoroughly counted and distributed among the hunters for their labour. After all theirs was the hardest job. My share of mangoes, or tamarind was always welcomed by my mom an excellent cook and ex village girl herself. She would then efficiently pickle the fruit in the amazing Mangalorean style.

We never ran out of pickle those days......

- Nomadic Inclinations