PUM (BLACKSMITH SHOP)
The Blacksmith's shop is normally situated near the Blacksmith's house. Inside the shop, there are two identical wooden cylinders about 1 ft. in diameter which serves as the blacksmith's bellows. This blacksmith bellow is called Pum-thei in Mizo. This bellow is connected to the fire-place by means of a hollow bamboo pipe underneath. A strong bamboo pole firmly attached at its ends with the long feathers of a cock's tail is used to pump air into the cylinders. The air thus generated passes on to the fire-place via the hollow bamboo pipe and burns the charcoal kept at the fire-place. The blacksmith then works on the anvil (Dolung in Mizo) after melting the metallic tools and implements in the fire-place. A water trough is kept near the anvil (Dolung) for use when necessary.
The Blacksmith grinds, honed and sharpen the tools and implements of the villagers. A villager bringing tools to the blacksmith shop has to work on the bellows by way of pumping air into the cylinder for the fire-place till the time the blacksmith completed the job for him. The blacksmith works on a first come first serve basis for his clients. But if a woman comes, she is given top priority. Pum is frequented by the village elders to chat away their pastimes. As Pum belongs to the village community, it is used for various other purpose also. When a corpse passes through the village for a night halt, it is normally kept in the village Pum. Hence, in olden days it was believed that ghost often frequent the village Pum.
