Fishing
[Welcome to Saturday Stories - today is about some time I spent in Madagascar…]
The gray veil of clouds dimly backlit by the sun they hide, were slightly distinguishable on the distant horizon from the grayish blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The ocean’s salty waters were making their futile rhythmic assault on the sandy beach, rushing landward like a beast rising up out of the sea roaring and raising its arms upward and then slamming them explosively down on the shoreline to no effect whatsoever. The island’s people know this beast, and what it can and cannot do. They don’t fear it.
The mpanjono (fisherman) knows the sea well; how it moves, its waves and depths are truths handed down from generation to generation. They respect the sea. They know it can take their lives. They also know it is their life. So, they cut down a tree from the forest and hew out a canoe and make a fishing vessel. Then, five of the mapanjono drag one of these small boats out into the ocean. Then, timing the waves, two fishermen jump in with paddles while the other three launch them over the perfect wave at just the right moment and into the ocean.
Paddling furiously but purposefully, the two get past the currents that would drag them back to shore and drop a line with a small buoy tied to its end in the water. They continue paddling further out into the ocean, a rope trailing off behind them as it uncoils itself from within their small boat. When they get to the end of the rope, they will drop the net that is attached to its end and begin their journey back to the shore.
Meanwhile, one of the other young men runs toward the next incoming wave, dives into it, and swims furiously until he gets to the buoy that his friends tossed out of the boat. He grabs it and swims back to shore. He hands it to the crew who waits for the net to be dropped. Once it is, they begin the hard task of pulling on the rope, dragging the net slowly back to shore. Soon, their partners who had paddled the canoe out return and begin to help in the tug of war against the sea.
Women have gathered by now. They are carrying large plastic tubs and tarps. When the net reaches the shore, the catch will be dumped on the tarp and the women will begin to sort through the fish, putting the good catch into the tubs that they will carry on their heads to the market where they will sell what has been caught.
After the women leave, the mpanjono sit down and clean and mend their nets. They neatly recoil the rope and put everything in order next to their canoe. Tomorrow they will return and do it all over again.