Rural sights: scarecrow, charcoal making and ox carts

November 28, 2013

Seen near Kanaganhalli, Chittapur taluq, Gulbarga

From a distance I actually thought it was a man. These scarecrows are keeping up with current fashion trend, especially the second fellow, dressed in tight jeans and slim fit shirt.

This is a charcoal making set up. In the foreground is dry wood, this is jaali katagi. The smoking mound is a tightly packed heap of dry wood covered by thick coat of earth - effectively this is a one time use kiln. The kiln has vents to draw in fresh air and let out smoke. Inside the kiln wood is heated under pressure for several days. It is allowed to cool naturally and then the kiln is broken. The treated wood is not black charcoal ready for sale.

Ox carts with solid wheel. Most Indian bullock carts have 5' spoked wheels but some places are exceptions like Chitapur taluq. Carts with 3½' solid wheels are quite common - these are slightly smaller than the spoked wheel carts. There's a third type too- carts with automotive wheel - steel disc and rubber tyres - very common in southern districts of Karnataka.

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