With a homemade boat, geese, and herbs instead of medicine. How a real Polissian Robinson lives
Boris Teslyuk is 75 years old. He was born in Polissya, on the banks of the Pripyat River. He managed to live in various places — even reached Yakutia — but over time, he still returned home, to the village of Perarou. By the way, it is officially recognized as a center for preserving the unique Polissian craft of dugout canoes carved from solid oak. Boris Teslyuk also knows how to make them with his own hands. And he doesn't just know how, he actually uses them in his daily life. What it looks like was captured in a photo report by "Onliner."
Boris was born on August 8, 1951. Nowadays, the date would be called lucky — 8.08, two infinities at once. Back then, no one paid attention to such "signs." Nevertheless, the hero of the report was lucky: after school, he managed to enroll in an institute in Minsk. The boy, who grew up among ancient oak groves, chose the Faculty of Forestry.
Thus, he became a forest valuation engineer — a specialist in accounting, assessing, and describing forest areas. By assignment, he went to Yakutsk, 9000 kilometers from home. By the way, it is the world's largest city located in the permafrost zone. But the most vivid memory from his years of work there was not the cold, but an encounter in the forest with a bear. The encounter was far from fairytale-like — the animal tried to attack. As Boris himself recalls, he had to react quickly and defend himself, using a hunting rifle for protection.
The man could only endure 5 years so far from his native Polissya. And after some time, he again settled on the banks of the Pripyat, familiar to him in the smallest details. He worked as a master in the Zhytkavichy and Turaŭ forestries, having been retired for the last 15 years.
That same river continues to feed local residents to this day, just as it did hundreds of years ago. Floating in his homemade boat, Boris saws off and collects dead trees that have fallen after the spring high water. These are mainly oaks or willows — as they are called here, "vyotly." Then the Polissian man saws this wood into logs suitable for kindling stoves in local houses.
Making a dugout canoe by hand is no easy task. One must know how to choose a suitable tree — they might keep an eye on it for several years. Plus, it's crucial to perfectly maintain balance, to feel it: the slightest mistake, and the canoe will capsize repeatedly on the river. Besides skill, considerable physical strength is required: one literally has to hollow out the wood by hand. Despite his age, Boris has no intention of abandoning his customary work.
The man used to fish a lot. But in recent years, according to him, the river has become shallower and there is noticeably less fish.
However, otherwise, nature is as generous as before: Boris collects mushrooms and berries in the coastal forests, knowing the best spots for cranberries and blueberries. During the warm season, he always gathers herbs. To maintain strong health, he uses them instead of medicine.
By the way, distinctive wild honey, known for its properties, is also harvested here. Bortnytstvo (beekeeping in hollow trees) is another tradition that has been best preserved in Polissya.
Together with his sister, who lives in Moscow for most of the year, Boris built a large three-story house on his plot. But out of habit, he himself continues to huddle in a small wooden hut — every corner there has been familiar to him since childhood.
The man himself is divorced, lives alone, but he has three adult children — Kostya, Katya, and Oleg.
Boris also has his own flock — geese, which he looks after.
The Polissian man's native village is located in the Zhytkavichy district, in the south of the Pripyatsky National Park. According to 2020 data, about 250 people lived there. Part of the village is directly adjacent to the river. The settlement in this area has been known since the adoption of Christianity — it was here that one of the Turaŭ crosses was located.
And the tradition of making dugout canoes has lived here for millennia — and it still hasn't turned into a tourist attraction. It's no coincidence that it has received the status of a historical and cultural value.
Comments
Што, пабудавалі вялізарную трохпавярховую халабуду пад 200 квадратаў у якой ніхто не хоча жыць і якую цяпер не могуць пратапіць? А цяпер на старасьці гадоў трэба валэндацца дзесь каб ламачча назьбіраць.
> Так ён стаў інжынерам-таксатарам — спецыялістам па ўліку, ацэнцы і апісанні лясных масіваў.
> Працаваў у Жыткавіцкім і Тураўскім лясгасах майстрам
І пасьля гэтага зьдзіўлена кажа што чагось Прыпяць абмялела... ну дзіўныя людзі, сапраўды.
Увогуле артыкул нейкі бесталковы. Расказаў бы хоць больш пра той човен, паказаў бы як рабіць, ці што за зёлкі ён там зьбірае. А то незразумела, ці то нейкая біяграфія майстра лясхоза, ці то рэкляма новае хаты, ці то фотарэпартаж з жытла нейкіх бамжоў... нічога "рабінзонскага" асабліва і няма - там увесь раён скрозь такія рабінзоны ў робах "белробат" ды "белвторчермет", ходзяць ды адусюль нясуць што не прыбіта ці не прыкручана (не ад добрага жыцьця зразумела ж).
людзі трохпавярховыя хаты і будуюць
У печы пачэсным Перароўскім гасцям ))) ды й увогуле - добры дзядзядзька )))