We stopped at one of many villages to see the traditional way of brickmaking. In open clay quarries, damp earth is dug from the ground and shaped in a mold. Many of these blocks are then piled up (there can be thousands in one stack). Mud is plastered over the whole surface to help retain the necessary heat. An opening is left at the base so that wood can be inserted and the bricks can be fired. This process may take up to 24 hours. Sometimes, leaves from the banana plant are placed on top – the idea is that when these catch fire, the bricks are ready to use. There are several problems with this process. One is that bricks closest to the heat source are often burnt, and those furthest away may be under-fired.
