The hard-working Intha are famous for propelling their
flat-bottomed sampans by standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other
leg around the oar. This unusual leg-rowing technique offers relief to the arms
during the long paddles from one end of the lake to another. It also enables the
rower to better see the floating islands and vegetation - it's often necessary
to plot a path around all the obstacles - and to spot fish. Rowing with
their legs will also leave their hands free to drop their cone-shaped bamboo
framed nets over passing fish, which they can spot in the shallow lake.
