Driving Birds Away at Harvest Time

Below our house and on the road (Dama Rd) heading toward Kenema Town was a rice swamp. It was my impression that the Mende preferred growing rice on the upland since swamps were damp and cold. However this swamp was used and as shown in this picture, as the rice was maturing birds would try and eat the rice. This photo shows a man, using a sling with stones, to scare the birds away. Taken in 1969.