Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1991, Page 146

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FAROESE SPADE-CULTIVATION
note-worthy, that an optimization of the
dual system requires a rather delicate
balance between the number of heads of cat-
tle, their dung production, their grazing
area, the area cultivated with barley, and the
size of work-force on a given farmstead.
Reinavelta added to the productivity of
the area and the dependability of supplies
under harsh climatic conditions. But the ad-
vantages were paid for with hard toil.
Function of the haki
Reinavelta seems a very well adapted system
for manual cultivation, though this aspect
may need to be proven by further investiga-
tion. Some points relating to the main imple-
ment, the wooden spade, the haki, shall be
briefly mentioned here in an attempt to clari-
fy whether the implement is equally suitable
to its purpose.
The haki has a relatively simple form com-
prising a long handle and a long and narrow
blade, hakafótur, that is tipped with an iron
cutting edge, grev. The implement is relative-
ly light in spite of its size.
Functionally, the long wooden blade and
the sharp iron cutting edge are significant. If
seen in use it is evident, that the haki is not
a primitive imitation of a steel-spade. It is a
specialised tool for a very specific task, and
in fact it may be termed a ’turf-slicer’ rather
than a digging instrument. The sharpened
cutting share permits an easy separation of a
grass turf from its base, and the long wooden
blade facilitates the slicing-off of reasonably
long pieces of turf. For the lifting and turn-
ing of the turf, the long handle provides a
good balance. These features explain why
the haki was often tailor-made for its user,
matching his force and proportions.
An interesting observation supported by
the interpretation of the film, was that the
haki is pushed in such a way that the body
weight is utilized to press the implement
through the turf more than ’muscular pow-
er’.
Another observation is based on the
straight shape of the haki, which is ideally
suited to the postures and stances required
when working the teigar. It is thus closely
related to the field form. If this were a flat
one, an implement with an angular shaped
handle, e.g. like that of the ’caschrom’,
would appear to be more convenient and ef-
ficient. The example is noteworthy: a ’sim-
ple’ implement needs not indicate an un-
sophisticated function. Neither does an im-
plement necessarily be a good indicator of
level of development of an agricultural sys-
tem.
A total ecological evaluation of reinavelta
will no doubt result in an appreciation of its
fine adaptability as a grass-turf cultivation
system to the rather marginal, humid, and
cold, conditions of the Atlantic islands. But,
at the same time, it must have required a
sizeable workforce even though attempts cer-
tainly were made to minimize the toil as far
as possible.
The History of reinavelta
Very little is known about the early history
of reinavelta. Apparently the first literary
sources, that with full certainty describe
reinavelta are from the last part of the 17th
century. Older sources establish beyond any
doubt that there was an early cultivation
(e.g. Seyðabrævið 1298), but whether this
was by reinavelta is not known.