"From the school, we went to Kami Nasa as Kumansing was making an 'ashee' for Gerry. I checked the Blacksmith houses. There are two new ones - Chandrabahadur's and Badrasing's. Cleared up a few niggling inconsistencies, then went to watch the 'ashee' making, which was well advanced. Gerry impressed by the quality of the workmanship with such crude tools, and the knowledge of the correct treatment of metals. Kumansing took more trouble with the handle than he would do for ordinary villagers, of course. It cost more too, but then, that was to be expected." (Diary)
Video Sequences:
Blacksmith hammering, Sherbahadur in the background preparing the handle
Blacksmith hammering
Puts metal in charcoal fire, sparks and glow
Blacksmith pumping skin-bag bellows, turns metal in fire
Blacksmith adds charcoal to fire
Blacksmith takes red-hot metal from fire, hammers it into shape
Blacksmith hammering, Sherbahadur whittling handle
Sherbahadur making handle
Charcoal glowing
Lifting red-hot metal from fire, hammering it into shape
Hammering on anvil, to blacksmith
Blacksmith using a chisel and hammer to break metal strip
Forming a metal ring for the handle
Blacksmith making a smaller ring
Adds charcoal to fire
Using tongs to turn ring in fire
Using tongs to lift red-hot ring out of fire
Shaping the ring by hammering it round part of the tongs
Shaping ring
Cutting wood for handle
Shaping handle for metal ring
Putting metal ring on handle
Blacksmith fitting second metal ring to handle
Heating end of blade in fire
Pushing hot end of blade into handle, lots of smoke, more hammering, pushes end of blade into the earth
Pours water onto blade to cool it, then pushes it into handle
Blacksmith making sharp edge of sickle with a file
Heating blade in fire
Pouring water onto blade to temper it
Blacksmith smoothing back of sickle with a file
Thak, 21st April 1992