Personal Journal, 2nd Morning-Summer

Azul is a major trading post and the centre of a large industry that supports the locals. As far as I can ascertain, it's named after a rich blue dye called Azuli, produced from plants of the same name that grow around the local area. From my conversations with the few locals who tolerate my presence, the town began as a series of farms that cultivated the plants and then expanded to include workshops producing the dye, later becoming part of a trade route. It now houses thousands of farmers, workers, artisans and craftspeople, along with a large temporary residence.

The dye itself is so lucrative because its colour is regarded as sacrosanct, and is reserved for the Somin, who control a lot of the local resources. From what I've seen I believe that the punishment for lower members of society found wearing the colour is severe - it's a baffling law, and the reasons behind it remain obscure to me. I'm especially unsure as to the nature of the Somin themselves, and have not yet seen one, despite requesting audiences with the local pair. They're spoken of with great reverence and whenever I ask after their nature I'm greeted with hostility and contempt.

I feel certain that whatever it is that makes the Somin and their blue dye sacred is at the heart of these people's beliefs, and those beliefs remain obscure to me. Sadly so, since I cannot begin to teach them the truth until I understand the foundations of their faith. I can only hope that I might inspire the same curiosity in them as they do in me.

Labels: Azul, Journal, Somin, Tandzin_ouHaddi

posted by Paul Duffield  # 12:06

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]

0 Comments: