...As I drove past this little temporary settlement
I knew I must come back to make some images
as it was not possible to stop at the time.
A few days later after some hours of driving
I managed to arrive just before sunset.
Of course (as always) the first problem is to get the kids
to stop ganging up into the frame...wanting their picture.
Often is the case where one does so many images for the PR.
In hopes of freeing up the scene for unobtrusive shooting.

I stayed the night in the jeep..

Early in the morning it was more relaxed
and folks were allowing me some freedom.
At one point a woman started wailing....gently at first,
repeating some phrase followed by a couple sobs
and then a soft typical crying inhalation,
as everyone gathered around...
she went on and on building in intenstity.
It had a beautiful heartfelt melody.
After a while another woman came over
reached down to stroke her head and sooth her,
slowly she subsided...
She regained composure and went on her business (tending the fire)
in a very calm and subdued way...life goes on.
On enquiry I discovered that her 1 year old daughter
had passed away three days previous but that she still had 5 kids.
She was wanting to have more.

Anyway they were staying in this camp for a month or so
till the sugarcane they were contracted for was done.
Living in such close quarters to the bullocks
it was hard not to get the "dung" on at least your shoes.
Also the children without diapers created additional hazards.
At that point I began to see how difficult it was to avoid contamination.
The kids would drop food on the ground and routinely pick it up and eat.
I peeled an orange and gave it to a child..hand covered in cow dung.
It was a painful sight and resulting problems associated obvious.
Open sores and the like...
the child mortality rate in this country is very high.

By 9 am everyone..children and all headed over to the fields to
begin the harvest, a routine everyone was familiar with.
The skills with a machete were impressive.

Hope you enjoy the pictures..if not the story : /