The forge is set up outside the smelting ground. The same thatched mats are usedto make shade for the fire. The 2 bellows are set facing each other, each about 3 inches from the short clay funnel which run with the fire.
A heap of charcoal was heated red hot and then clearing a little round bed with a knobby ended stick, the blacksmith tipps in knobs of raw metal mixed, pure and impure, and covers it over with charcoal.
The bellows work tirelessly, the now fused knob of metal if lifted on with long tongs and the blacksmith runs to the large (granite) stone slab set in the sand outside the shelter where he beats the red hot metal to a rough rectangular shape.(1)
Again and again this process is repeated. All the time the bellows are playing, ceasing only during the brief intervals while the blacksmith draws the sparkling incandescent metal from the fire, dips it into the sand and running to the stone, hammers it with the full swing of his body.
Gradually, the block becomes thinner and narrower, then it is shaped inwards a little at one end, the shoulders are formed and the point is fined down and shaped. Gradually the shoulders grow into upward point the blade is beaten out and finally reaches the final stage when the edges curve outwards.(10) The finishing touches are put on the little stone which is sunk in the sand by the blacksmiths side, and for these he uses the head of his iron nail; the side of the same tool was used for shaping the shoulders.
Normally the metal which is kept back for use in the home compound, is sent there in the raw state straight from the smelting, carried by one of the family early in the season. People come to the miners camp to by hoes, axes and knives, some, buy the raw metal and have it forged later.
As a general rule, the bulk of the smelting is done during the early part of the season.
Do not greet rerero or other workers because otherwise the funnel cracks when fire heated.
Mahanda mats, sun on furnace spoils metal
Chalking, smith and son of mines, full mark; helpers, both sides cheek are forgers
Eldest son cannot learn to be a smith, he works bellows
If cattle or a person is out in the bush, he cannot do ongheva or they would be eaten
Selling raw material, little lumps, raw
All smelting early part of season
Metal is sent to the compound in little basket
All stone in pile then smelting consequentive days, ten days; then more
Kwanyama Mines near Kavango
Next morning - no chalk
Smith must sleep in onduda, night before smelting, A.M. there too, and wife
Usually smelts several times consecutively. On the road drink oshikundu, in camp water.
Evening smith calls A.M.
Re fire (wood) from shilongo - lighted wood kept and returned. What does forger say to family that they answer Yes - Bwaketu? oshidila sh'oshmánya name - Kwat'onghava
Sticky plant put into clay when kneeding? omkopakópa ie same as on feet smelting place
Trees of charcoal? omtuntungu and ongai
Remedy dropped round ongubo of eumbo? ongai tree oshingwidi
Why fish basket for charcoal? larger. Name: oshóngo
Decorating with reddish powder at Mine, everyone?, for O.A.M. name:
okuyámbela O.A.M. Smith does new visitor, others do themselves or, they will become ill
Horseshoe of stone left mine, name: ongháliá
Stone and charcoal poured right foot, why? for such stone. name: otatúwa olúsha = ondudu making charming, to make stone omakala, good.