European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Dangling Over a 395-foot Cliff master Honey Hunter Mant Lai carves slabs of honeycomb into a Goatskin lined Basket. Villagers thrust out pots to catch the freed Honey in photo below. The master photo c Diana Summers and Etc a h of Nepal National geographic silently like a spider on a Trail strand of Weta. Mam Lai starts Down the swaying rope ladder with Only a Cord a found his Waist to secure him he dangles Over a 395-foot Chol Tho slightest Cirerol judgment would mean death his quest Honey lion the world s largest Honeybee like his lather and lore lathers in Central Nepal Mani Lai is a master Honey Hunter thousands of angry bees my the air Asho plunges a Bamboo pole into a nest nearly As Large As he is yet the Only extra Protection he wears is a pair of Long pants and a Loose Cape draped Over his head wielding his poles like giant chopsticks he carves thick slabs of honeycomb into a Bamboo Basket lined with Goatskin when Lull. The Basket will be lowered to companions at the Cliff base Tho sound of the giant bees is  says an article by Eric valid and Diane Summers in nation Al geographic but want Lai s movements Are Swift and Calm to has done this Many times he is 04 Mani Lai will not Start Down the ladder to get the Honey before chanting the sacred mantras As he sprinkles grains of no in the air he recites the different names of photo. God of Tho Forest. His people the go runs practice a mixture of hinduism buddhism and animism. Mani Lai will not Harvest the Honey when the god is not pleased when his father whose belief had not been As Strong descended the ladder one Day the bees attacked Lum by the thousands he was blinded by a sting Mani Lai decides the appropriate time for every Honey Hunt one in Spring another in fall among All the Hunters in his Village Only Tho nine in his group Niay Hunt Honey each inherit la cd this right from his lather " together � econ go where one Man alone could not travel Ani Lai says there Are no roads in those Foothills of the him Ala a decades of porters have worn paths through Emerald tiers of Young Corn. Most of Tho Forest has been cleared Only the steepest slopes arc still wooded As the Trues have dwindled so have the bees Mani Lai s Grandfather took 600 nests a year last year Mani Lai took 80 Mani Lai guides Hio Hunters along invisible Woodland trails and directs each of their tracks he alone Speaks with the gods he alone descends the ladder to unveil Tho hoc covered Golden comb he pushed a flaming bundle of leaves under the bees with a Bamboo pole they furiously depart in the smoke to capture Mani Lai on film. Valli rapper Down the precipice on a Nylon rope the first Westerner to join the Hunter in his dangerous spot. Etc surround Mani Lai their Neil has two parts the honeycomb attached to the Cliff and the Tarwood corny. The lower pm cent Ron Laming pupae eggs and larvae. He uses a Polo to push two Short Sticks tied to a Cord dropped irom the chill top into the Brood comb. When the comb is free it is lowered to the ground a valuable source of Wax. It is so Large it has to be folded in two to be carried to the Hunters Camp. It s raining Honey shout villagers at the base of the Cliff. As they thrust pots and pans to catch the Sticky liquid Hal Mani Lai frees from the honeycomb by the time Mani Lai finishes filling the Loisl Basket it s brimming with almost Lour Gallons of honeycomb. As it reaches the ground villagers swoop upon it. Dipping in bowls and breaking off Small chunks of comb to Chew it is a Honey feast in less than an hour. Mam Lai has harvested perhaps 10 Gallons of Honey and 20 pounds of Wax he is satisfied with the yield from this nest As he has been with most of the 10 others he Cut during the Campaign. His group s Success however carries a hidden Price report Valli and Summers although the Hunters leave some nests untouched As seeds Lor the future their destruction of Brood Combs has contributed to Tho insects decline but the extensive loss of Forest habitat is an even worse threat Mam Lai says the be