So last night I was going through some books in the Marine Biology department of CDE Consulting which has some very old and rare books on the subject. I came across the following excerpt from the book Expedition into the Unknown, by Hans Hass where he describes meeting Afif Didi and his experience in Hithadhoo on 3rd January 1958. Afif Didi provided us with an interpreter and we strolled around the island. The islanders are dreamy, friendly people. In front of airy huts made of plaited palms leaves stand elegant swinging beds, and the garden paths were neatly covered with white gravel. No one was importunate on our appearance, and no one begged and on one appeared to be the least bit intimidated by our presence. Our first visit was to a weaving shed where we found everything small, almost toy like, with the framework of the weaving loom of old carved wood. The apparatus was home made and it was set in motion for us. I filmed a girl working at a spinning wheel; she looked about seven but actually she was thirteen, and – as our interpreter assured me – already of marriageable age. A slight, delicate creature with typical South Sea eyes. Queit and reserved and utterly feminine. And small busy fingers which turned the spindle swiftly. I filmed her through the spokes of the wheel and she looked straight ino the camera long and thoughtfully. I tiried to get her to smile, but without success.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 00:55:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015