EVERYDAY LIFE IN BALI

THE HOUSE

On the Balinese loom (prabot tennun) the warp is stretched between a heavy wooden structure (tjctjaga and pendalan) and a sort of yoke (epor) shaped like a Cupid's bow held by the woman's back. After the bamboo spindle (tunda) has y gone through the warp, the weave is tightened with a long ruler (belida) of polished hard wood that slides over a bamboo drum(pengrorogan) , while the threads are separated with a bamboo tube' (bungbunggan) provided with little bells that jingle a every move.

Thus the work is made easier by the rhythmical sequence of three sounds: the tinkling of the bells, the sound of the hollow bamboo as it is struck by the ruler, and the energetic double knock to tighten the weave. Weaving is the main occupation of the women of caste who feel above doing heavy house labour, but they are not lazy and take to weaving with tenacity. In our house the wives and aunts of our host, all noblewomen with servants to do the housework, remained all day g1ued to their looms and often continued working into the night by the faint light of a petrol lamp.
Towards evening the ground of the house shook, resounding with deep, rhythmic thumping - the women threshing the rice for the next day's meal. Two women pounded the rice in wood mortars with long, heavy pestles, each dropping her pestle alternately in unfailing, perfectly timed intervals, catching it on the rebound with the other hand.

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