Spanish Mountain Life
by Juliette de Bairacli-Levy
continued from the July Ezine...
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July04/empower.htm
All alongside the many streams of the mountain there
was also a flowering; more hyacinths, and then mostly
tiny things, such as the scented violet, chickweed, red
and yellow pimpernel, white clover, and in the water itself
much watercress which Rafik and I gathered for our midday
meals.
The winding roads of the mountain, later to become ankle-deep
in white dust, were bordered by fleshy-leaved, grey-hued
aloes and cacti.
The passing of the goat flock in front of
my window was being repeated by others throughout Lanjaron;
everywhere house doors were being opened to pass out animals
of all sorts, hungry for the feed of the mountain. The animals
were attended by men and youths, frequently gypsies, either
on foot or mounted on their donkeys, mules or horses, the
latter very often colourfully decorated with harness and
saddle trappings, the saddles being embroidered with bright
wools and hung with fringes- which are also a deterrent
to flies- of crimson and saffron wools, almost always only
those two colours.
The music of that Sierra Nevada procession of animals! Collar
and harness bells pealed, hooves beat wild on the modern
concreted road, the herd dogs barked, and men shouted instructions
to their mounts. 'Burr-O!' for their donkeys, 'gall-arr'
for their mules, and 'hack-ah' the horses. The herding cry
for the goats was always 'she-bah, she-bah!' Otherwise the
men are very silent; but away by the streams of the three
water-mills and the narrow river Husagre, the women sang
as they washed their household linen and clothes-and they
gossiped much, also, one about the other. Washing work on
the mountains was very easy.
Washing machines and soap powders were not needed. Exposure
to the fierce sun bleached out all stains, and likewise
dried out all moisture in quick time. Housework too, was
very easy. A sweep-out with an old-fashioned broom, then
a wipe-over of furniture, with paper to remove dust, then
a cloth moistened first with vinegar to erase marks, then
polished with a little olive oil, made fragrant by having
steeped in it, again in the hot sun, mountain flowers from
lavender and thyme to scented broom blossom.
The singing heard on the Sierra Nevada is typical Anda-luz.
The sweet and sad throbbing chant of flamenco, which resembles
Moorish song, was doubtless influenced by the long occupation
by the Moors of the Andalusian area of Spain facing Morocco.
The women and girls also go forth from the houses to the
sierra; they to the nearer places to cut fodder for the
immediate needs of those animals which have not gone to
the sierra to graze, and to gather also herbs for their
cooking, especially fennel and sorrel, sweet mint, a sweet
watercress, water-celery and a form of wild onion of much
abundance. Watercress is not very popular with them, and
they scorn chickweed and nettles, all of which Rafik and
I ate in a daily salad, especially the water-celery. That
going to and from the mountain of the people and animals
was the heart of the life of that part of the Sierra Nevada.
Every evening I took my child to meet the procession of
the animals; for he loved the beasts of all kinds as much
as I loved them, and that was very much indeed. My greatest
affinity was for the herbivorous creatures, especially
sheep, goats, cows, horses, camels, and the wild deer.
On the sierra roads I met with an abundance of all except
the camel and deer, although that latter animal also lives
in some remoter parts of the mountain. How good it was
to be close to so many animals and all of them in fine
health, excepting perhaps some of the cows which suffered
from mastitis, due mostly, I believe, to irregular milking
and being walked long distances when their udders were
un-naturally heavy with milk. Rafik and I liked to see
the great herds, and have the sweet herbage scent of them,
and touch their strong bodies with our hands. The goats
especially came to know us, and would greet us in their
high vibrant voices and nuzzle against us.
to be continued, go to:
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/October04/childbearing.htm
click
here for another excerpt from Juliette's Nature's Children,
"treatment of fevers"
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/july03/recipes.htm
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