The Table

Somewhere - along EVERY road there is what we refer to as a "streetside" market.  Small wooden tables on top of rocks where they sell yams, pineapple, kenke (a staple for locals - sour corn mash) and gari (dehydrated and grated casava) or whatever.  Usually all the tables next to it are selling the same things.  They don't quite grasp the monopoly or niche theory, and have no concept of marketing.  Or DO they?

What is with the rocks?

Is it really just to level the table?  Is it for amusement to see how high they can stack them before the whole thing topples over?  Is it to keep the wood from wicking up the water and rotting the table during the rainy season?  Does it keep the pests from climing the table?  Is it to make their table higher than their neighbors for better visibility in selling?  Does it represent the number of years they have been in business?  Is it because of some odd superstition in warding off Juju spells?  Is it supposed to be lucky?  Or is it some tradition passed down for the past 4,000 years and no one remembers why it is done?  Or...?

And why have I been trying to get a picture of THIS table for the past 2 months!!! 

It's because it is the best that I have seen.  It's not just the number of rocks that intrigues me, but the variety of sizes.  Everytime we go by it I've tried to get a snappy (picture) but we have been going by too fast, or there was someone in the way, or a glare on the glass etc.  Finally my lucky day arrived in the back seat of President and Sister Shulz's truck, on our way to Biriwa Beach Resturaunt.  I captured "the table" in all it's glory.  Someday I will ask someone (if I can find one that speaks English)... WHY?