Publisher's Synopsis
This volume contains a detailed description of hunting, trapping and fishing in a traditional Kammu village in northern Laos, as given by a villager who has taken part in the work for decades. The traps and other utensils are depicted in drawings that clearly show their functions. Rites and taboos pertaining to the work as described and the texts of the magic formulas are given in Kammu with interlinear translation. Special attention is given to the hunting feasts where the catch is shared between all the families in the village. A separate chapter describes how the boys (never girls) in their games develop their abilities for hunting and how such games are encouraged by their adults. The text is interspersed with recollections from Damrong Tayanin's home village.
