Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur
- Part 9 -

By: Mutua Bahadur *

The diameter of a Laitang basket, at its mouth, is 37cm. Its height is 20.5cm. The diameter of a Likhai basket, at its mouth, is 46cm. Its height is 25.5cm. The diameter of a Shanghai basket (Fig. 64), at its mouth, is 48.5cm. Its height is 34 cm.

This traditional method of measuring the grain is still prevalent in all areas of the valley where people still buy and sell grain; and while delivering the grain by the tenants to people who own the paddy-fields.

Again, in an almost similar fashion, people in the valley use a small measuring basket, called Miruk, to measure rice. The mode of measurement is: 24 Miruks equal to 1 Cheng.

FISHING BASKETS

Baskets of varied shape and size have been in use for fishing in the hills as well as in the valley since time immemorial. The number of different baskets used for fishing by the people in the valley is much more than those used by the hill people. The baskets used for fishing purposes can be broadly classified into two groups:
(a) Baskets with which fishes are caught, and
(b) baskets that are used to keep the caught fishes.

The womenfolk in the valley use a bowl-shaped fishing basket called Long (Fig.65) to catch fish in shallow water. The method of use is peculiar. The Long is dipped into the water and kept near the feet with its open end towards the person. Then the fisherwoman churns up water with both feet to scare the fish right into the open mouth of the basket.

After doing this for some time the Long is lifted out of the water and the trapped fishes are then caught. Although Longs are also made in some particular areas of the Manipur valley, the main centre of production is a place called Patsoi.

In the hills, the Purum Chothe and the Tarao tribes too make Long baskets in abundance. The technique of making Long baskets by the tribals is interesting. Firstly, the body of the basket is woven with bamboo splits. It is more or less a flat structure. Then it is placed over an upright wooden block which has an oval-shaped tip. This wooden block is called 'Ram' by the Purum Chothe tribe, and it has a height of 60cm. and a diameter of 35cm.

A circular loop made of bamboo splits is then forced down the 'Ram' from the top downwards, thus pulling down the brim of the bamboo structure to fit into the circular loop. After getting the right shape, i.e., the bowl shape of the basket, the brim of the bamboo structure is tied firmly to the loop.

Now the basket is ready for use. The technique of making Long basket by the Meiteis is somewhat different (shown in Fig.66). The pattern of weave, as employed respectively by the Purum Chothe and the Meiteis is different, too.

The menfolk in the valley use a fishing basket, called Long-oop, to catch fish in waist-deep water. The method of fishing is by quick dips of these baskets into the water, keeping the basket rooted for a few minutes, and then a search for fish inside the basket by putting the hand into the Long-oop through a narrow opening at the upper end.

In hilly areas like Maram, fishing in turbulent rivers and in creeks is done with the help of Kaijara basket (Fig.68). This basket has a gaping mouth with a tapering end, and has loops or 'ears' acting as hand-holds. The womenfolk of Kwatha village use a particular type of basket for catching prawns at Lamchellok.

The baskets used for containing the fish thus caught usually have an elongated neck and a narrow mouth. In order to prevent the fish from leaping out of the basket, an appliance made of bamboo termed Shou, is fixed inside the 'neck' portion of the basket.

The Shou is removed first before taking out the caught fish. The Shou is conical in form. It has a pointed tip, and is slightly blackened over the fire. It is bound firmly with fine bamboo splits. The mode of using these baskets by the womenfolk, when they go out to fish, is to tie the strap attached to the basket around their waist and to dangle the basket on their right side.

The Tangkhuls of Hundung use a bamboo-tube having a lid and strap, to contain the caught fish. The apparatus is known as Khoishum. The menfolk of Andro use a basket with strap, called Sungtu (Fig.76) to contain the caught fish. This particular basket has a narrow mouth, and also has four legs or stands.

The style of carrying the Sungtu is by hanging it on the shoulders. People living-by the Loktak lake use a basket called Ngathok to contain the caught fish.

The inhabitants of Karang, an island on the Loktak lake who entirely depend on fishing for their livelihood, use a big basket called Cheplei Thop for containig the fishes caught from the lake.

The "fishermen of Thanga, a place by the lake, use a particular basket called Longkholthop for containing prawns caught from the lake. This basket has a wide mouth and has legs, too. Fishermen plying on canoes, when fishing on the Loktak lake, use a basket known as Shoiru (Fig.77) to contain the caught fish.

The Shoiru has a narrow mouth, but has a broad bottom. It has two loops or 'ears' at the rim for convenience in carrying the basket. The slender end of the oar is inserted into the two loops and then the oar with the laden basket dangling from it is lifted on to the shoulders, and is thus carried.

In the valley, earthen or mud enclosures are contrived to block off the flow of water in streams, rivulets, canals, marshes, etc. and the 'trapped' water inside the enclosure is then drained out with the help of a native appliance called Istop. It is a trough-like structure made of bamboo and attached to one end of a bamboo pole. After the water is completely drained, fishes found in the enclosure are then caught by hand.

See a gallery photo of Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur here.

To be continued ....

Mutua Bahadur

* Mutua Bahadur contributes to e-pao.net regularly. This article was webcasted on December 20, 2011.