In Praise of Floods by James C. Scott

Author:James C. Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yale University Press

KO KYAW SAN, now fifty-four, had been fishing in the Ayeyarwady River since the age of seven, accompanying his father in a small boat. When he grew older, he was strong enough to walk on the bank manually dragging the boat upstream against the current, a common practice until the mid-1990s. They would make periodic stops, strategically placing their fishing nets (one hundred to three hundred feet long) attached to poles on the river’s shallow bed. The locations were marked for reference, and the journey would continue.

A customary ritual among the river’s fishermen is offering their meals to the local nats before eating themselves. This practice seeks their blessing for safe and fruitful fishing as well as protection from potential dangers. After lunch and a brief rest, they would cast their fishing nets again in the afternoon until dusk. At night, they would find a suitable spot on a sandbank near their fishing net to sleep. Notably, they avoided sleeping near farmlands.

Prior to settling down for the night, they would draw a circle on the ground and once again pay their respects to the local nats, asking for permission to stay. This ritual ensures they feel secure.

The entire fishing process might span more than a week, depending on their catch. Once they collect their catch, it is sold at the market, and they may move to another location to set their nets again. They continue until they’ve earned enough to support their households.

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