This Vulture seems to ask.
As this Vulture atop the barren tree seemed to be observing the sinking Sun,
"What, in Hades, is this round thing below me?"
As this Vulture atop the barren tree seemed to be observing the sinking Sun,
so
did we, having arrived at our 'Sunday Pan Camp Site” prepare for
'tomorrow'
in
our “Sunset-painted” mosy-tents.
A
very special adventure was awaiting us.
Meeting
'The San'
The
'San', a nomadic people, have lived in this area an estimated 20,000
years.
(give
or take a year or two)
Since
they have no concept of land ownership, it was easy for the Dutch and
the British to claim the land as their own, since there were no
counter claims.
In
fact, through Amy as the interpreter, the senior of this family said:
“You
cannot own the sun. You cannot own the rain. So how can you own the
land?”
Some
of the 'Bushmen' have moved into small Communities, giving up their
nomadic Way of Life. They are now raising cattle and farming the
land. I do not know how successful they are in this new way.
Others
live very much like the family we saw. I do not know if, after having
met us, danced for us, and demonstrated how do make fire with two
stones, they are not going home to put on Blue Jeans and a T shirt.
They
dug up tubers and roots, shaved them to a pulp and squeezed them to
drink the liquid. They performed a 'circle dance' with dried rattling
fruit tied to their ankles.
The
music to this dance was a steady single tone hum.
Amy
assured me that these were pictures of their lives of today.
Well,
I will have to believe her.
Through
Amy, I asked the Elder which name they prefer: 'San' or 'Bushmen'
He
had a broad smile when Amy translated:
“It
does not matter! San, Bushman, .. it all depends on your tone of
voice.”
It
is also interesting to know that 'San' means 'Man' and that the
'San' are the oldest known culture of Southern Africa.
The
San have always been and some still are 'hunter-gatherers.'
To
this day they hunt with small bows and arrows, poisoned with a home
made brew from herbs they find in their immediate surroundings.
They
still find tubers and roots, vegetables, fruits, and nourishing nuts.
Although
they are small of stature and lean, they seem to be a healthy group.
And
they find truffles in such amounts and quality, that you would have
to pay a fortune in any Paris or London Eatery.
We met this young couple first.
They were looking for, and finding, Truffels.
The young man unearthed a tuber,
which was sliced in tiny slivers, from which they extracted water.
The Chief of this family used two stones,
with which he produced a spark and,
first lighting dried moss, he got a nice fire going.
With a sly grin he admitted that
“It is easier with matches or a good lighter.”
“It is easier with matches or a good lighter.”
Truffles, anyone? Cost almost nothing. Dig them out of the ground
Preparation for a dance.
The dance consisted of circular rhythmic stomping by the men
and humming and clapping of hands by the ladies.
The Chieftain of the family.
“Meeting the San, made the whole trip worthwhile” said John
and I could only agree wholeheartedly.
.
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