How to make a 'boley'

Hollowed, dried boleys were used as bowls before china came along. I prefer them! Here is how to make them:

First, find a Boley tree and ask the owner if she can spare one (...or two, or three:) boleys.











Second, cut your boley in half. There is a natural line on the boley which makes life simple (i.e. no need to measure or draw).











Third, gut your boley. It is similar to gutting pumpkins at Halloween, but they say the pulp and seeds are not for consumption. Everyone here thinks the guts smell bad (like Noni, which turned out to have huge health benefits), so I dunno. The guts do stain your skin and clothes... kind of a brownish blue.






Fourth, Scrape out the inside as thoroughly as possible.
(Trust Mommy Wynne...it makes a difference!)
















Fifth, carve your boley with advanced tools (pictured here: kitchen knife, screw & nail :), rub inside and out with lime, and set to dry. I was over-zealous about carving and now feel like I have Carpal Tunnels :) You do not have to finish it in a day, but it is easier to carve on day one, before it dries out.






Finally, the inside will need to be sanded, so the surface will be smooth.