Another luxuriously lazy day. Walked the beach to the north to the creek to inspect the boats at close quarters. The bottom section is a dugout, with side extension panels stitched to it with twine/jute. For two hours we watched the hauling in of the net which a boat drops in the sea, returning with hauling ropes. The entire male population turned out from Bogmalo to help, supervise, yell, watch - rapidly followed by the children. The women didn’t come until the catch was in. Lashing poles to the lines, they slowly walked backwards with the poles at their backs, two teams, one at each end of the net. As they pulled, the rope was coiled, and the marker buoys moved inshore. The net must have been 100 yards long, and we waited as excitedly as the villagers for its emergence. What it contained was one large 3’ fish, plus 2½ medium baskets, and a fistful of squid. Bring out the loaves! Apparently, the largest proportion goes to the trawler owner, the rest is divided equally between the fishermen. As it’s Sunday, they probably had extra helpers, so should have got more than a sprat each. I was wrong yesterday: today is Sutachi Punar. I hope subsequent days are better.

Also today is Raksha Bandhan (Siblings Day!) or Sister’s Day. The Rakhi is tied to the brother’s wrist “with fervent wishes for his prosperity, happiness and success in all he undertakes. In return he renews his pledge to guard her honour and self-respect with the last drop of his blood.” A newspaper article extols the virtues of siblings of the opposite sex and asks for sympathy for those who have none, in a rather nice statement of equality.