Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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(continued from page 74) I can though, only speak with assurance and accuracy about the tribe of people called Santals. They compose one of the 17 divisions of the state of Bihar and it is among them that my aunt works. Having Hved there for three months, 1 have learnt a fair amount concerning their cul- ture, but this is in no way representative of the rest of the country. The day I arrived in the village, 1 experienced what I think is the most attractive of their customs - that of washing the feet of guests. This is probably a fairly common occurence in the Eastern world, as in the Holy Land long ago. Santals love to make a ceremony of bringing their very best brass dinner plate, placing it under your feet and smoothing and massaging the dust away with water. I was rather nervous when 1 was told the school children would do this for me, so I carefully washed my feet first, being ashamed of their grubby appearance! They had also made garlands from marigolds which they hung around my neck. I had to learn their special greetings too. There aee very definite actions which one must perform when meeting another and they are all re- gulated according to age. The whole Santal social framework is built upon reverence for age and experience. I had two responses to learn; the greeting of a girl to someone older and that of a girl to someone younger. In each case, the younger of the two performs the more humble ges- ture - the dobok and gives the greeting to the older, who must receive it. There are differences not only in accordance with age,but also whether one is a man or woman. Within the closer family circle, there are even more detailed rules. It is quite complicated but most satisfying to be a participant. In the village, the day begins with sunrise. The time of year determines the occupation of the men and boys of the family. If it is winter and cold (under 75 F) in the morning, the getting up process is slow - and in the case of some of the poorer folk where there are not enough wraps in the home to keep each person in the family warm, the man will take his wife ' s sari and shawl as well as his own things and she is left inside the h ouse until he deems it warm enough to do without her clothuig. There is a lot of work to do in the winter though. That is the time for cel- ebration of the harvesting of the rice - called sorai time - and in honour of this, all the houses are patched and replastered with a mixture of cow dung, rice husks and water. The rains do a lot of damage to mud huts and so repairs are done annually. Santals are especially fond of making their homes look pleasant. Each morning after the main meal of rice and curry at about 10 o ' clock, the wife will sweep the house and courtyard very carefully and then, with the same plastering mixture, smooth over the ground. This will dry in the sun - almost as hard as cement. She will then take the dirty dishes, clothing and children to the local water tank. Later in the day the water buffa los will be brought there for drinks and a bath. The simplicity of the life of an Indian villager astonished me, fresh as I was from the complexities of the progressive Western world. Not only the physical simphcity but the financial - in a home where money for food is hard come by, taxes are a non-existant complication -and the mental simplicity, as well. I am not implying that these people lack intelligence, just opportunity and education. With this lack of sophistication in deahng with others and with money, they find it easy to fall into the outstretched arms of money lenders who demand a mercilessly high rate of interest. A man can commit not only himself, but his family also, to a life of submission in this far too easy way. It is here very often that a mission is able to gain the trust of the people. The majority of Santals, it seemed to me, were willing to accept the help of missionaries. Among those who work with my aunt, there are several to whom she is able to give her complete trust - even with large amounts of money. There are a number of local people who come each day to work at the mission; helping with the new buildings and mainten- ance on the compound. There are several projects for expansion, including an agricultural one, and one concerning water resources. On the com- pound proper there are homes for missionaires and workers, a school with boarding facilities, the dispensary, a church, a garage and several workrooms and storerooms. Much assistance is given by the American Methodist Board of Missions and Christian organizations like C.A.S.A. (Christian Association for Social Action) and A. F.P.R.O.( Action for Food Production) and also by several individuals who not only send money but boxes of used clothing and bandages. There is a great deal of enthusiasm both there and overseas and the people are worthy of the help. In addition to managing the dispensary and maternity unit without the help of a doctor, my aunt organizes a leprosy clinic situated a short distance from the mission. This chnic is entirely supported by donations and does not even appear on the Mission budget. There are annual examinations and monthly distributions of medicines. This year is the clinics 16th - and attendance is growing in leaps and bounds - now there are over 200 patients coming from distances up to 14 miles, which is a long way for deformed feet to walk. In the last few years, when the leprosy patients have come for treatment, they have frequently brought their children. It is so much simpler to treat the disease if it is discovered early, but the villagers are slow to accept new ways. This may sound discouraging for any kind of work, but it certainly heightens the thrill of success. Among the Santals, the village witch doctors have a great influence. In some cases this is well-deserved, but it is difficult to convince the; medicine men that modern science can often triumph where ritual and incantation cannot. Sometimes a person will wait until he is nearly at death ' s door before he contradicts tradition and comes to the dispensary, very often braving the threats and opposition of his family. But I do not want this to sound as if acquiring patients is akin to extracting teeth. The local people have built their trust and faith in the mission upon many years of successful work and cured friends and relations. A new help for the mission workers is the rice co-op. The extention project will buy rice in large quantities when it is cheapest and then store it until the need is greatest, from May to No vember. It is sold at the price at which it was purchased. This has saved many a family from hunger during the dry season when prices for any food soar due to scarcity. Those less fortunate are the ones who will find the imminent uphetlval in and of India most traumatic. The writing is on the wall - it will be exceedingly difficult for this massive country and population to bridge the abyss between tradition and survival for much longer. It will be up to the widely experienced leaders of the country to decide which changes are best for their people, but it is the time-forgotten villagers who will benefit or suffer the most from those decisions. , Margaret B Margaret K. Bagnall, ' February, 1969. 19

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Martha Pimm Debbie Smith Xandy Smith Nancy Gale Here Ues our friend Nance Judy Patton Who always loved to dance; But one day she fell on a spot And that ' s why she ' s in this plot. Liz Greenberg Here lies our friend,Liz Who was always in a tizz, From writing notes by a lamp She finally died from writer ' s cramp. Debbie Hunter Here lies Miss Debbie Hunter Who never went a saunter From History to Math she did her best And now from overwork she lies at rest. Agi Ivan Here lies Miss Agi Ivan, Who with her wit 6M she could liven. One day she laughed so much in class That now she lies beneath the grass. Beth Knox Here lies Beth Knox, Below in a box; However hard she can shout She will never come out. Judy Levine Beneath this sod lies Judy Levine, Such a Lady Macbeth was never seen. Upon the blood I knew she ' d slip And she did, so now she ' ll give less lip. Sue Massey Here lies Miss Susan Massey Who to her teachers was never sassy. Until one day she smoked too long And that is why she ' s dead and gone. Susan McHardy Here lies Sue McHardy Who was always very hardy, Until forty miles Buried all of her smiles. Kathy Mulock Here lies Kathy Mulock Who was killed by a bulock; This is very sad to tell Because she did everything so well. Deirdre O ' Brien Here lies Miss Deirdre O ' Brien, Who suddenly found that she was dying. Fantastically jolly, rambunctiously wild. Her telephone number was frequently dialed. So sadly we ' ll miss our dear friend Dee, But she will come back in the form of a monkey Here should lie young Judy Patton Canadian flowers she ' ll never fatten. When death at length came and pursued her She swore she ' d die in her Bermuda. Swiftly from Canada she swam, all gloating Her death was slow, she died not knowing The island was not fixed, but floating. Beneath this stone of aspect grim Lies interred sweet Martha Pimm, She ' s left this vale all sad and teary For part time work as a valkyrie. Charlotte Sinclair Here lie the remains of Charlotte Who used to accomplish an awful lot; Until she died of too much ' pound ' And had to be lowered into the ground. Connie Snelgrove M.M. Southcott Penny Parker and Martha Scott Penny and Martha went abroad, Their itinery being uncertain; Fran Wilson Now they ' re together under this sod Because they went behind the Iron Curtain. Here lies Miss Debbie Smith Who always believed in any myth; One day she was told off a cliff she could fly And now at its bottom she doth lie. Here lies Xandy As a friend she was dandy; Her hobbies were varied And this is no dream, From the study of Russian to fights with whipped cream. Here lie the remains of Connie - our fellow. Who died as a result of having to bellow. Her voice untrained to rise over a whisper Broke at low G and gosh we ' ll miss her. Here lie the remains of Micky Southcott It must be admitted that she did a lot. Folk Club, Piano, Sports and Debate Were too much for her, but now its too late. Here lies Barb Thomas Whose desire to be famous forcedher to read books That fell off their nooks And killed her with the weight of their knowledge. Don ' t cremate her Pray don ' t burn her, Let flowers spring From Wanda Turner. Christa Uhrenbacher Looking upwards at the sky ! Miss Uhrenbacher there doth lie, And I the carver raise a moan Fitting her name upon the stone. Barbara Thomas Wanda Turner Here lie the remains of Fran She was always able to scan. She wrote continually and now she ' s dead, From overwork she died in bed.

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FORM 5A Back Row: Linda Holt, Debbie Grills, Tricia Glandfield, Coralie Todd, Liz Manzies, Jo-Anne Gross. J Middle Row: Norma Smith, Jane Martin, Jennifer Chance, Margie Guthrie, Georgie Binks, Susan Turner, Jackie Heard. Front Row: Lorraine Winterton, Susan Michelson, Janet Stubbins, Mrs. Ross, Francie Cochran, Vicky Willgress, Jennifer Coyne. Absent: Jean Tanton. 5A FORM NOTES NAME NICKNAME FAVORITE SONG SAYING FUTURE PLANS P.D. Georgie Binks Georgie Badge eat it psychologist analyzing herself Francie Cochran Fran Born to be Wild ho yo! this summer janitor Jennifer Chance Jenny You Make me So Very Happy For crying in the beer a doctor a mummy Jennifer Coyne Coyne Windmills in your Mind Urn Um! Marry Trudeau his maid Debby Grills Jo-Jo Don ' t Let me Down Come on, you guys an actress janitor at the little Theatre Tricia Glandfield Tricia Love is Blue Zoologist Butcher Jo-Anne Gross Hose Hashochar I don ' t think I did well in it . .but! Interpreter at U.N. Russian Spy Margie Guthrie Maggie Muggins Sunshine of Your Love I don ' t know Social Worker Elm wood teacher Jackie Heard Brain I WiU Sure English teacher French cab-driver Lynda Holt Holtie Classical Gas I ' m going riding Riding instructress Bookie Jane Martin Hair Hair Nit Nit Ski Bum Barber Liz Menzies Mensis Mercy, Mercy Ah, you guys Oceanographer Plumber Susan Michelson Susie Aquarius Shut up, you guys Kindergarten-teacher Mid-wife Janet Stubbins Stubbs I can ' t control myself Kaff, Kaff Model Garbage man Norma Smith Nerm-Worms Possession Love to Interior decorator Writing Graffiti in washrooms 20