ทองสุข ภรรยาของกำนันทองดีbrought the tobacco tray and a copper bowl of drinking water,as was the custom when receiving visitors.Then,without being prompted,she crawled on all fours towards a wooden cabinet by a wall and produced from a drawer a large census book that had become frayed at the edges and smelt of age and dust.Having handed it to her husband,she crawled away to a respectful distance and composed herself,crouching submissively on the floor like a slave of old.A moment later two of her youngest daughters emerged from an inner room,creeping up to their mother'side.