Passing through the clearing, we enter an area... a wooded area to be sure, but it can't be called a forest. We're following a wider path now; apparently this one has been well traveled. Looking around, I watch small mammals running up and down the trees, chasing each other. Bluish birds similar to jays are diving at and making a raucous noise at the mammals. This area is a bit hilly, with numerous rock outgrowths. The small deer-type animals are seen darting all about, hiding from us as we approach by running around to the other side of these small hills. We pass through some steeper hills, rock formations are on both sides of us now, and we find ourselves winding around on a narrower path shaped like a serpent.
Suddenly, the narrow path opens up into space where the group stops, with me directly behind them. I'm trying to move my head around to look through or around them, and finally get a glimpse of what's on the other side. From the looks of things, I'm in a village! One of the members of my group is speaking to the small crowd that has gathered in front of them. Fortunately for me, I see smiles among the gathered crowd and friendly chatter between them. The group in front of me splits, moving to the left and right. They turn to me and motion that they wish me to advance. They point to a patch of ground between them and the gathered crowd. I believe they wish me to stand there. As I advance, the groups' eyes follow me to that spot. Facing the crowd, I would guess roughly thirty-five people are before me. Interspersed are shorter people, children of course. All their smiles turn to an expression I can best describe as awestruck. No, I don't think it's because of my good looks! One of the male members of my group moves up and stands to my left. He gestures toward me with his hand and speaks in a raised voice with a couple of words and I hear him say "zhimm." I notice that some of the small members of the crowd start giggling, then cupping their hands over their mouths. The adults quickly give them a glance and they straighten up. I wonder what that was about? Perhaps I'll find out later. Briefly looking over the crowd, these people look the same as my group, very tall, with a dark reddish colored skin and very dark hair. There are a few with the dark hair turning somewhat gray.
The crowd carefully moves forward, a few men and women with the graying hair move ahead of the crowd. They stand next to each other and face me. One of the men raises his arm, and also examines the material of my t-shirt. As he finishes the "examination", one of the fellows places his palms on my shoulders and applies a bit of pressure, gesturing that I should lower myself. I feel anxiety about this, but oblige, and kneel down on one knee. The two step aside, and motion into the small crowd. The children make their way through the crowd and totally encircle me... smiling, laughing, and moving their hands over my face, hair, and nose for a minute. It's a bit embarrassing, but I'm not quite in the position to object!
One of the men in my group speaks up and says something to the crowd and they all start to move away, apparently back to whatever they were doing before our arrival. The two men in our group motion for me to follow them, and the women leave us. The three of us walk further into the village. Looking around while walking, one can see people busily engaged in activity. Women are hand-weaving fibers into clothing while singing to themselves… children are running, laughing and playing. A few men are working on patching a fiber net. One man is carrying in each hand cylindrical shaped containers with rope handles, filled with small round seeds the size of peas, another has containers of water. Two women are carrying various types of vegetable produce and fresh fish in pouch type containers that have been soaked in water. Passing by the main area of activity, further out are what appear to be dwellings. In just a couple minutes or so, we’re at the place where some of the villagers have their homes. A few women are seated together outside of their dwellings as they nurse their infants. As we pass by them, the two men bow slightly and speak a short greeting. The women return their courtesy, saying something to us as they smile and wave as we continue on our way. It looks like the mothers are simply relaxing on this calm and peaceful day as they soak up the sunshine and the gentle breeze. I notice that the dwellings they are in front of are sort of a thatched construction, but are well made. Some dwellings stand on open ground; some are built around the trees and rocks. I see no domesticated animals around, only people attending to the affairs of life. For the first time in a couple days, I'm in the presence of others... different looking yes, and I think to myself… I'm not alone anymore.