Yunnan (China), threshing rice with large roller pulled by a water buffalo

Yankai Valley, Yunnan Province, China - 1943Rolling of the rice presented quite a colorful picture because the surrounding ground was of reddish/brown or an orange fire clay color. The trees were a lush green and the black buffalo and golden rice formed quite a contrast in color. The water buffalo are being [led] around in a circle, the boy holds the rope and directs the buffalo as it moves around the pile of straw in the center. The rice is raked down and the grain rolled. The grain is raked and placed in a pile against the wall to the right. The woman of the house stands by with flailing sticks ready to take care of any rice that was missed by the roller. The two water buffalo indicate the harvest was good. It always took quite a bit of man and animal power to harvest the rice crop.GrayscaleBox