Out there in the countryside, a shepherd is “repairing” (mending) his boots. In the past, shepherds usually wore boots, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to suddenly get “worn out” up on the mountain peak (to tear so badly that walking became impossible). Because of this possibility, he always kept his “arai” with him in his bag — a small leather container made from lambskin, holding a needle, strap, some pieces of leather, and so on.