A gold miner’s Christmas can be lonely

Dec 25, 2008 News

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The hustle and bustle that usually accompanies Christmas in the city often causes persons living there to forget those persons who are far removed from the townships, in the dense jungles of Guyana, seeking their living with pursuits such as mining precious stones or cutting lumber.
While it can be lucrative, these occupations often cause sadness around the holidays, since Christmas is a time of festivity and being with family. While everyone in Georgetown and urbanized areas are with their families, these loggers and miners are in the interior either alone, or only in the company of their camp mates.
For miners and loggers, the holiday season can be a dismal experience, as they are far removed from the festivities of urban settings and from the joy and family togetherness which the holidays bring.
One such gold miner, Rory Rambarran, who has long since left his day of seeking gold and diamonds in the interior of Guyana, explained that even though being away from the frenzied activity in the city during the holidays can be disconcerting, the interior has its own charm, and in the silence of the jungle one can really contemplate and understand the meanings of the season of Christmas, and of life.
Even though the peace of the jungle is calming, there are times when the silence can really become very heavy, and you just want to leave, and be with people you care about, explained Rambarran.
“Back in those days I wasn’t married,” said Rambarran with a smile, “which is probably a good thing, because she would not have tolerated my absence during the holidays.” Even though a bachelor, and a man hardened to the ways of the interior, Rambarran explained that he still felt the pangs of sorrow when he thought of his family, especially during the holidays when he was sure everyone would be together.
“Sometimes, when you are alone in the bush,” explained Rambarran, “you really miss your family, and you imagine what they are doing, who they are with, all of the food they will be eating and the time they will be spending together.”
He added that, “No one likes to be alone during the holidays.”
He cited a saying many of the old bush workers say to persons who will be washing gold alone in the interior void of the company of their camp members, “De monkey gun sing carols for you.” Rambarran explained that this meant that if you are alone in the bush, the only sound you will hear during the holidays will be the shrieking of monkeys.
After some years of being in the bush, Rambarran said that he became hardened to solitude, but as a young man he sometimes yearned for the nightlife and the parties that are synonymous with Christmas in Georgetown.
“Personally, I don’t mind spending Christmas time in the bush,” said Rambarran, “but there is a lot more going on in town than there is in the bush. There are more parties, more people and a lot more to eat.”
But just because persons spend the holidays in the interior does not mean they spend the holidays alone. Since misery loves company, camp mates sometimes get together and hold their own little Christmas parties, rather than be completely alone for the holidays.
That too can prove to be a merry affair.
When Christmas is spent in a camp, the camp members often gather together and cook a special meal on the day and they often partake in drinking rum and other varieties of liquor, much of which is often home made.
“Its like all of us are miserable together,” explained Rambarran, “none of us really want to be there; we all want to be at home with our families, but we make the best of a bad situation and keep each other merry and festive…and the liquor doesn’t hurt either.”
He added that it usually helps if the camp has been doing well in finding gold and gems, as everyone’s morale would already be high.
He also said that he had heard of some stalwart miners who had not been out to urbanized settings in decades. Even though these men are so far removed from society, they still celebrate – even if it is just celebrating for the sake of celebrating.
“Many of these old guys are not Christians, but they would definitely mark that day (Christmas Day) on their calendars, and they will definitely do something special on that day,” recalled Rambarran, “even if it’s just an excuse to get drunk, they will definitely celebrate.”
Added to this, many of the landings where miners and loggers go to buy supplies and rations often have Christmas parties where there is lots of food, drink and merriment. Many of the miners and loggers head to these landings in search of entertainment and company during the holiday season.
Rambarran has since moved back into Georgetown, his days in the interior behind him. He is married and has, to some extent, settled down. Despite this, he said that there will still be days of drink and fun with his friends.
However, a certain silence he said falls upon him during the December months. Is it the spirit of the season or the monotony of the sound of the rainfall on his roof that reminds him of his days in the interior?
Whatever it is, during the holidays, Rambarran said he often thinks back to his days in the interior and reminisces of all the time he spent there.
“After being in the bush for five years,” he said, “there are certain times when you really wouldn’t mind the quiet again.” He said that oftentimes he misses the howls of the monkeys in the forest canopies or the hooting of the owls as they would fly past his campsite.
“There are those times when the silence and the solitude of the bush would be a relief from the buzz of Georgetown,” disclosed Rambarran.

(By Rustom Seegopaul)

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