The whale beach vol.6

Fishermen try to drop the big one from the boat. Even though the boat is tilted, it's too heavy and no sign to move. Kids surround the boat. Some of them cannot wait and jump onto the boat and look into it. The Whale Beach is so exited. Suddenly the boat tilts to the max and the monster is slipped into the water. The huge fin reflects the sun. It's a Manta Ray.
I've thought it's an object to watch in an aquarium or diving. It's first time to see a captured manta. A rope is tied on the mouth. It looks really heavy on the land. Two men pull it out from the water to the beach. However it doesn't move anymore. Finally the manta is left alone on the beach and the men go to help pushing back the boat. Grownups, kids ... various people joined to push. Contrary to the manta, the boat is smoothly moving on the logs. The one who brought a big souvenir is always welcomed by the people.
I look back the manta left on sand. A boy comes close to the killed manta which has many speared holes around the lung part. He looks it with mercy then looks into the huge mouth and gills. He touched on the edge of the gigantic fin. Yeah, I feel you ...

The manta is dragged by 7 fishermen or 8 on the sand. It's so heavy that the sand is flatten after that. When the cool shaped tail is finally dragged into the hut, one of the men takes a knife. Then for the first time in Lamalera, I'm refused taking a picture. "Yo, Do Not take the picture!"
The knife is deeply stuck into the manta's body. The part from the mouth to lung is relatively vacant. Monotonous disassembling, totally different from cutting sashimi from tuna. Before long ,the body divided into blocks. Well, if I cannot photograph, then I don't need staying here anymore.

While I'm photographing neighbors, people with the manta's meat in the bucket comes up from the beach one after another. How do they cook the gigantic meat blocks. I know dried ray's fin for eat, although I never heard a manta dish.
In the evening time, I often meet the people who bring fishes. They look so happy. I come across a girl on the road in new village. Fishes are tagged on the waist. I ask her to let me take a look. She shows the fishes with a shy face. Her feet on the pavement road wear no shoes. When is the last time I walk on the road with barefoot? In Lamalera I often saw people who walk with barefoot. They had no shoes on the food but a smartphone in the hand. It's the 21st Century like picture, isn't it?

On the beach, kids' football match begins as usual. The Whale Beach is a real communal square although the village has a square with big tree. As if every activity is scheduled, various resident use the beach one after another. Especially evening time is busy by the young and kids after school. An elementary school and middle school are in the village. The students study from early morning to noon. Then come back to the house for taking a long lunch break. They back to the school and study till the late afternoon. On the other hand, there is no high school here. The students gotta go to the school 2 km away.

Nearby the guest house, I see guys setting chairs on the road in front of one house. They describe to me they'll have ceremony for a parson passed away tonight. "If is it for Mama Clara?" "Yes, Here is her house. Generally we hold the ceremony for following four nights after the funeral"
In the evening, I visit the ceremony. The road is filled up with people. I'm offered a seat. Shortly after, the speech about Mama Clara comes from speakers and followed by prayer.
When I'm leaving after finishing the ceremony, someone calls my name. "Fumi? Are you leaving?" I cannot remember who he is even I see his face. "Yes, I remember him. Craft artist of whale bone accessory. It's really pleasure to me everybody remember my name in such a short period stay. He tells me that it's common that meals will be served for the attendants. "Sorry, I just finished a dinner" He shrugs.
I regret refusing the offer when I come across the another funeral mass for Mama Clara few days later at big church in Leworeba. It's a chance to know some story on her. She can be big name in the island, I guess.