Making Fishhooks and Polishing Them
Author(s)
Title
Making Fishhooks and Polishing Them
Alternative Title
Bulhijahai, Bulhi Thimaralun (ބުޅި ޖަހައި، ބުޅިތިމަރަލުން)
Publication Type
Language
div
Number of Pages
4
Location
Maldives
Keywords
Fishing
Fishhooks
Maldives
Smithery
Craftmanship
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
Description
Bulhi Jahai, Bulhi Thimaralun is the handicraft of making fishing hooks. Though this craft is now in decline due to modernization and increase of imports, it used to be widely practiced during the time of the forefathers.
Equipment required for the craft:
Dhagandu (Iron) for crafting hook
Marutheyo (Hammer) of 2 sizes
Girunbaa (Bellows)
Mushi (A traditional hammer used by local smiths that resembles blacksmith hammer)
Fuh Kashi (Chisel)
Handas (Tongs) of 2 types
Feeru (Grindstone)
Kiruna (Anvil)
Materials like iron and other metal elements have always been an imported commodity in the Maldives. However, due to the trade barriers such the geographical isolation and difficulty in navigating the reef barriers, the import of such iron was scarce. Moreover, unlike these days, iron was available only in big chunks. Therefore, the smith will first size it down to desirable sizes of ingots by splitting and hitting. For this, the iron will be put in the stove with the bellows to heat up so that it will be moldable. Once the iron is red hot, it is held with the tongs and hit and flattened with a big hammer. This process of hitting the iron with a big hammer is called Fiyarijehun in Dhivehi.
After this the now flattened iron ingot will be split to suit the width of the fishhook being designed. This will be done by chiseling the iron with a chisel at the point the smith wants to split it. Finally, the iron will be ready to be shaped into a Bulhi (fishhook). These will be in shape of short iron rods.
The iron will again be put in the stove with the bellows to heat up till red hot. Then, the rods will be hit and shaped to be four sided with the Mushi by holding iron in place with the hammer. After this the iron will be cut to the length of the Bulhi. This is called Bulhi Kendun. This process is followed by Bulhi Jehun, which is the process of curving Bulhi into shape after making its eye (Filithu) and barbed point (Thundu). This concludes the process of making and shaping the hook.
However, the colour changes due to iron heating up and traces of rust will still remain at this stage. Therefore, this is followed by a process to clear the hook of these impurities called Bulhi Alikurun. For this, the Bulhi will be placed in an urn filled with coconut toddy and small pieces of coral stone and moved around with a sizeable metal rod. This process takes an average of 2-3 days.
The last step of finishing up a Bulhi is Bulhi Thimaralun. To do the Thrimaralun, the Thimara (lead) chunks are put in a wok of heated oil to melt. Once the Thimara melts, around 6 or so Bulhi is put into the wok at once. After the Bulhi is well coated with Thimara, they will be taken out and put into kerosene. The Bulhi will then be left on the white sand of the Maldives while it gets wiped with a rag. At this stage, the Bulhi will look as if it is made from silver.
Equipment required for the craft:
Dhagandu (Iron) for crafting hook
Marutheyo (Hammer) of 2 sizes
Girunbaa (Bellows)
Mushi (A traditional hammer used by local smiths that resembles blacksmith hammer)
Fuh Kashi (Chisel)
Handas (Tongs) of 2 types
Feeru (Grindstone)
Kiruna (Anvil)
Materials like iron and other metal elements have always been an imported commodity in the Maldives. However, due to the trade barriers such the geographical isolation and difficulty in navigating the reef barriers, the import of such iron was scarce. Moreover, unlike these days, iron was available only in big chunks. Therefore, the smith will first size it down to desirable sizes of ingots by splitting and hitting. For this, the iron will be put in the stove with the bellows to heat up so that it will be moldable. Once the iron is red hot, it is held with the tongs and hit and flattened with a big hammer. This process of hitting the iron with a big hammer is called Fiyarijehun in Dhivehi.
After this the now flattened iron ingot will be split to suit the width of the fishhook being designed. This will be done by chiseling the iron with a chisel at the point the smith wants to split it. Finally, the iron will be ready to be shaped into a Bulhi (fishhook). These will be in shape of short iron rods.
The iron will again be put in the stove with the bellows to heat up till red hot. Then, the rods will be hit and shaped to be four sided with the Mushi by holding iron in place with the hammer. After this the iron will be cut to the length of the Bulhi. This is called Bulhi Kendun. This process is followed by Bulhi Jehun, which is the process of curving Bulhi into shape after making its eye (Filithu) and barbed point (Thundu). This concludes the process of making and shaping the hook.
However, the colour changes due to iron heating up and traces of rust will still remain at this stage. Therefore, this is followed by a process to clear the hook of these impurities called Bulhi Alikurun. For this, the Bulhi will be placed in an urn filled with coconut toddy and small pieces of coral stone and moved around with a sizeable metal rod. This process takes an average of 2-3 days.
The last step of finishing up a Bulhi is Bulhi Thimaralun. To do the Thrimaralun, the Thimara (lead) chunks are put in a wok of heated oil to melt. Once the Thimara melts, around 6 or so Bulhi is put into the wok at once. After the Bulhi is well coated with Thimara, they will be taken out and put into kerosene. The Bulhi will then be left on the white sand of the Maldives while it gets wiped with a rag. At this stage, the Bulhi will look as if it is made from silver.
Book/Journal Title
Publisher
The Academy of Dhivehi Language (Dhivehi Bahuge Academy)
Place of Publication
Male', Maldives
Date of Publication
Jul 2007
Issue
340
Pages
34-37
Academic Field
Social practice
Arts and crafts
Community/Ethnic Group
Maldivian craftsmen
Contributor
Active Contribution
Maldives, FY 2024