Domnic Fernandes: Some children were required to graze their cattle (cows, buffaloes, goats, etc) on the hill or in the fields. They carried their books with them and studied their lessons while their cattle grazed.In the evening, they had to make sure every member of the cattle got inside the stable. Similarly, they had to count chicken and chicks before closing kombiyancho ghudd or coop.
Response: Thank you Domnic for bringing nostalgic memories of my own student days. While I was a city bred lad having grown up in Poona, I spent many a holiday at my aunt's place in Nachinola. Her house abounded the football ground at one end standing in splendid isolation. My aunt who was a spinster lived alone there with her bachelor brother who was an epileptic. They reared cows, goats and chickens. For us city lads, it was great fun accompanying my uncle, taking the cattle for grazing. The smell of the fields and the earth, the narrow paths, the variety of birds and insects brought close to nature and inculated in me a love for nature and animals. We tried our hands at milking the goats without much success. The goats' kids were however a great joy. They loved being carried and cuddled and made fuss of. They would follow us everywhere. We were, however, wary of the nanny goat. She had big pointed horns which she kept flashing whenever one of the kids would bleat for her. Rosary was mandatory as was the Angelus. At dinner which was had under the large kerosene lamps, the elders would recall their young days and the fun and mischief they indulged in with everyone joining in the laughter and merriment. The evenings were spent on the large verandah. Just before the onset of monsoons, the fireflies would make their appearance. We had fun trying to catch them and hold them in handkerchiefs and watch them glow. We even tried to retain them in matchboxes. However to our disappointment, they would soon die. We did a lot of walking. From Nachinola to Carona to my other aunts house. >From Nachinola to Quitla, Aldona and back. Sometimes cutting across paddy fields as short-cuts. I do not feel today's generation would be able to walk as much. Sadly, the last memories I have of Nachinola is not too pleasant. My aunt and uncle were found murdered and their bodies half- burnt in the basement of their house. regards, Marshall
