THE YAKHA: CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN ...

There were various types of trees favoured for firewood, Amongst
the most popular was the Nepalese alder (_utis, seks.lt)bug but c~kclbu in
old and Ankhibhui Yakha), patle (Quercus lanceaefolia), jhinqana (Eurya
acuminata), phusure (Litsea puleherrima), Blue Japanese oak (phald-t),
kholme (Symplocos spp.) and pornmelo (bho~aTe), A tree ca!led ghanffb-ru
(Crataegus crenulata) was cut but was less !iked because it had prickly
branches. Green ~FIK bhalayo (kag bh8lag- Rhus succedanea?) was said to
have had a resin which could cause nasty weals to those susceptible to
them, which it was said could be treated by a dhf3rni1s mantra. While &
bhalayo was usable as firewood, i t was liable to explode in the fire, a
property which was put to symbolic use by some dhemis in the course of
their healing rituals.
When pieces of wood were cut to the right size, they were carried
home in a basket (m). This was filled to capacity by lying it on the
ground and putting the flatter, bigger pieces of wood on the part which
would be next to the back. Then the bottom, sides and front of the
basket were filled with high sticks, after which the middle was filled
up, !t was unusual to see a man carrying wood back to his house: this
was regarded as work for women and children. Of a!] the tasks they
performed during the year, carrying home the firewood was one which many
women said they liked the least. A fu!l basket of wood could weigh
anything up to 50kgs, and carrying it in a Doko with a strap taking the
weight on one's forehead made one's neck and back ache.
Other forest products were valued. Nepa 1 chestnut (pohs'mu', d8!ne
kaTus) was favoured as the leaf to fill with surti and smoke, Its
!eaves were also valued as fodder. The forests also provided food, if
need be, in the 'hungry season' early in the Nepalese year. The Kami