Part 7 (2/2)
”They never need an iron rim,” added Fil's father; ”and so are not as heavy as they look.”
”Why, here's a low sleigh, being made out of bamboo poles, runners and boards. Do you have winter here after all?” I asked.
”No, nothing but hottest summer always. But we have much rain, and our roads are not all paved with rock,” explained Fil's father. ”If we used those high wheels on the muddy roads, they would sink so far down that the buffalo or bullock could not pull out the cart that was loaded with rice or sugar.”
”So you see, the sleigh slips more easily through the slippery mud,”
added Fil.
”But what if you fell off, a mile from a crossing?” I asked laughingly.
”Oh, he jokes too, and you don't check him,” remarked Fil, who looked at his father. Fil's father smiled.
”What is this tough, crooked elbow stick, fixed to a long pole?” I inquired.
”A plow,” answered Fil wisely:
”Don't joke. How can you have a plow wholly made of wood?” I asked.
”I'll tell you,” said Fil. ”You see our rice fields are flooded and soft. We do not need a solid heavy steel plow, such as you need in hard, dry land. The water buffalo, who loves to wade through the flooded rice fields, easily pulls this bent stick, which plows up the mud. Then we drain the field and plant the rice seedlings, and flood the field again, because rice must grow in water.”
”It is a peculiar but lovely Philippines that you live in ; so different from our country, but perhaps even more charming,” I added.
CHAPTER XVI
UMBRELLAS; CHAIRS; MILK-BOTTLE
”Please show us an umbrella shop,” begged Filippa and Favra together; for they had been whispering about what they would like to see.
”This way, then,” said her father and the Padre.
We walked along several narrow streets, which had bamboo blinds hung between the second stories, so as to keep out the strong sun.
When we came to a certain door s.p.a.ce, which really had no hinged door, Filippa's father moved aside the dangling ropes, made of gla.s.s and bamboo beads, which hung across the entrance. This made a tinkling noise, and attracted the workman to the front.
”We would like to see your umbrellas,” explained Fil's father.
I thought the workman would show us silk or cloth ones, that would roll up tight.
”Why, this one is very thick,” I said.
”Lift it. It really is not heavy,” explained Fil's father.
”How is it made?” I inquired.
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