Hataman

Hataman, or the dry season, in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is hot, dry, and dusty beyond belief. Heavy farm work stops by 10:00 A.M. and most villagers try to find some shady place to hide from the sun; they don't emerge until evening, when the sun's rays don't beat down so harshly. Since our village is near a river, most of the villagers retire to the river to fish, wash, or mine for diamonds or gold. But as hataman progresses, even the largest rivers dry up and shrivel to a muddy trickle. Our usually noisy, boisterous village seems completely deserted in the hot afternoon sun. Nothing moves, and everywhere there is utter silence; even breathing is too much work in the oppressive heat.