Thanks Domnic We didn’t know it was used for ‘robonn’ This part of Goa (Xastti etc) we call it ‘gofinn’ (Catty or Ketty?), where as some may even call it ‘burash’ (elastic) V or Y shape’Kelkem’ I think we called ‘Kelem’ (not ‘Kellem’ which is banana). We usually it made it of Guava tree ‘Peri zadd’ or ‘Zamoll or zamllamchem zadd’ To make a ‘gofinn’ one needs” - Kelem - 2 (about) 7/8 inch long ‘poll’ strips of Cycle rubber tube - 1 2x3 inch wide piece of ‘chamddem’ (Leather), we used it from old shoes. - Plenty of fine cut/stripped rubber tube threads to tie tightly at 4 different place/ends i.e. 2 at the ‘kelem’ tips and two to tie the piece of leather with to cuts/holes on it. Then all you needed was stones to aim and shoot ‘Xil’le’ or ‘Topye’ or ‘Shedde’ etc We then crucify them, usually on a mango tree for we treated them as ‘judev’(jews?). Offcourse, that was then, about 53 years ago. In 70/80’s, we saw plenty of ready made ‘gofinn’ available in market Yellow colour ‘Kelem’ and it used piece of rubber tube instead of leather But they didn’t last long not even a week sometimes. Extra: For some reasons, we also called ‘gofinn’ to ladies bra (korpet) and I know we got it from a khell tiatr comedy where the comedian displayed it saying ‘nothing found in the bag except this ‘gofinn’ (because bra also had elastic ends) For that matter, there was one big life size picture of a man wearing brief (VIP?)
just outside of then Marliz Cafe, Margao. So we named it Marliz (for all briefs/underwear/chedd’ddi). Quote” [Goanet] Talking Photos: Seasonal Fulam These are wild plants known as "lokônndd or lokônnddichem zhadd." They are so called because they are strong like iron (lokonndd) - even the dhar (sharpness) of a koito (machete) is lost with continuous cutting of such trees. As children we made the kelkem (V-shaped wood joint of a plant/tree) of our robonn (catapult) from such trees and they lasted for a long time. Before putting them to use, we would dry them until the wood was completely dried. We would test their strength by pressing the upper ends of the kelkem. If it did not break, it meant it had dried thoroughly and was ready for use. The other favorite V-shaped wood joint that we used for our kelkem came from a "pêr" (guava tree,) which is also very strong, but our parents would not allow us to cut a branch for the sake of a kelkem. So, we would go on the hill and choose the kelkem of our choice from lokônnddichim zhaddam - sometimes we went on cutting branches until we got the kelkem of our choice. We used robonn to hunt down birds, squirrels, etc. We also aimed at and threw fruits like mangoes, guavas, cashew, etc. from high trees. Unfortunately, today's generation does not even know what's a robonn, let alone its use! The color of flowers as photographed by Joe is indeed beautiful! Keep up the good work Joe! God bless. Moi-mogan, Domnic Fernandes Anjuna, Goa Mob: 9420979201 wild and beautiful (on stem) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukflowers/5462308198/sizes/l/ [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
