June 29 update

I am learning more about how all this works, but the drillers started in another spot on Sunday and today they took their equipment off to another job. They have not found water. They will have their hydro-geologist come back to site and do another analysis, and then they will return. It is the geologist who failed them, not the fetish priest.  They began this job without the proper rituals, and it was for this reason the earth seized their drill pipe and broke it off underground. After he did the appropriate libations, they were able to remove the broken pipe from the ground and resume drilling. The fact that they did not find water is because the geologist did not point them to the right spot, and has nothing to do with the need for libations. However, after the geologist does another analysis, and they return with the drilling equipment, we will pour more libations before they begin work. That’s really just a precautionary measure, but I will insist on it.

It seems that this village is actually located between two rivers. The smaller one, down the hill to the northwest, is protected by a goddess who cares for the women in the village. Because of her concern she always releases enough water that they can do their work and take care of their families as they have always done. (But that was before giant poly tanks entered the picture.) The larger river is up the hill on the other side of the road, deeper in the forest. It is that river that feeds the groundwater supply, and it is guarded by a male god who is very concerned about what is happening to the environment. He is particularly disturbed that mineral deposits are being moved around and depleted, and is reluctant to let just anybody come in here and do whatever they want in his domain. It was probably he, or one of his lesser gods, who seized the pipe as a small warning to the villagers to do this properly. And I’m with him. A few months ago I visited a small village where a company is mining for gold on the surface. You could see the chemicals, including arsenic and cyanide, going right into the small river and then seeping through to the groundwater supply. The chief of that village knows what is happening, but has brushed away the concerns of a few obrunis who always seem to worry about something that is not their concern. 

So we will wait for the geologist to do his work, the fetish priest will then do his, and when the drillers return they will find water. My friend has another bottle of lavender scent that she has offered to donate to the cause if we need it. I also bought some lavender silk flowers (made in China) that we can use as well, so I think we have it covered. Will keep you posted.