DOWN MEMORY “FOREST” LANE

EPISODE 2: FOREST OR FOR REST

By F. Mohit, forestry_mauritius

I joined the Forestry Service on the 28^th of September, 1984, and I was posted at Grand Bassin Forest Section.  On the first day, I met the Officer in charge and two of his Assistants at 7.00 am sharp.  The Boss was a sly and stern man who was feared by all his subordinates.  He ordered one of his Assistants, Mr. Cool, to show me around Grand Bassin Forests.

 Grand Bassin Forest Office (2018).  It was an old train wagon in 1984

                                            

It was cold, windy and raining on that day.   Mr. Cool and I set off at 8.00 am, and we walked on the forest tracks and paths.  He was well equipped with raincoat and rubber boots. After just half an hour, I was soaked to the skin despite holding firmly an umbrella.  I cursed myself for being not good enough to get a better job.  At that time nobody was interested in the forestry profession as it was considered a lowly job.  There was the misconception that Forest Officers are Watchmen (Gardiens des Bois).  We returned back to Office at 2.00 pm after walking some 8 kms in the rain.

The next day the Boss, without any qualms, told us to go on the beat again.  My heart sank and my spirit was low.  Mr. Cool told me not to worry.  Although it was a beautiful sunny day, I followed him reluctantly.  However, he did not take the same route.  After a quarter of an hour, we reached a stream called Rivulet des Chevrettes.  He placed his haversack down near a tree, opened it and took out a shawl.  He then removed his shirt, boots, and rolled up his trousers.  Before I had time to ask him what he was doing, he stepped into the shallow water and plunged the shawl down to the river bed.  He used both hands to move the shawl near the water edge.  When he raised it, there were plenty of small shrimps (chevrettes).  In fact, the stream was teeming with shrimps, which was the obvious reason it’s named Rivulet des Chevrettes.

Rivulet Chevrettes (2018)

After just half an hour, he had caught about three pounds of shrimps.  He was a generous man.  Although I had just watched him fishing, he gave me around one pound of shrimps.   My mouth watered at the thought of hot flat bread (Farathas chaud) with rougaille chevrettes (shrimps cooked in tomatoes).  We spent some time talking near the Rivulet till 11.30 am.  We had received clear instructions from the Boss not to return back before 2.00 pm.  So, I was taken aback when he told me it’s time to go back.  “Don’t worry. Just come with me,” he said.  I followed him despite being sceptical.

We stopped and had lunch in a Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation some 200 metres from the Office.  He then took out two raincoats and spread them in a cosy spot in the shade of some Cedar trees.  He dropped his body down on one and said: “Now, I will teach you your first lesson”.  He continued: “Forest means for rest.  You got it”.  I could not help laughing.  We had a nap till 13.45 pm.  When we woke up, we washed our faces with a bottle of water.  Then he taught me my second lesson.  He took a stick and scratched some mud from a wet spot on the ground.  He then smeared his rubber boots with mud.  He said: “The Boss is always happy when he sees his subordinates’ shoes dirty”.  I had no choice but to smear my shoes with mud. 

The Cedar plantation nowadays (2018)  

  

We returned to the Office at 2.00 pm sharp pretending to be exhausted and thirsty.  Mr. Cool was right. The Boss was very pleased and beamed at us.  He jovially asked us to take some rest and freshen up.   I was in high spirit, and from that day I knew that the job would be fun and adventure.  Whether forest or for rest, the job is irresistible!!!