Eeling After Heavy Rain

Te Ao Hou, March 1964, Page 5

Eeling After Heavy Rain There were also countless nights when, after heavy rain, the streams rushed angrily down from the bush-covered mountains, covering the flat fertile valley with swirling dirty brown water. During the day we youngsters would swim and play, pretending that some floating log or tree was a canoe, and we were warriors once more. At night, when the waters had begun to recede, my uncles and I would go out to rama tuna. We used flares made from sacks, rolled up into jar or baking powder tins, held

by twisted fence wire. Kerosene was poured on to the sack, and when they were set alight they made good bright, but smoky, lamps. Other times old tyres were cut up and used instead.