Anth, 10 April 2002

[adric]

Is it Wed already? Bugger. Presentations/papers due starting Monday (10 min)

exam had more errors (in key) (qs 12 and 21), so add 2 more points to multiple guess half


Epe Mbuti

• frequently called "Pygmies"
  
• only a minor differential between height of men and women
  
• very young boys learn hunting with bow (made by father)
  
• honey gathering season (signaled by chameleon death cry) is most important of year


• honey gathered by climbing trees as high as 150 ft


• honey used for nutrition and trade


• trade with agricultural societies on edges of forest
  
• distended (chubby) stomachs are due to parasitic infection, most build immunity by age 5


• 2/3 calories for coming season come from traded goods
  
• axe head (traded honey for) passed on to future generations


• slash and burn: rain forest soil exhausted in two years, takes about 20 years to recover nutrients


• vicous cycle of cash crop planting


• ( Aboriginal community destroyed by gifts of steel hatchets )


• changes compound (cf. Mandarin butterflies in China )
  
• crops: millet, cassava, bannana, peanuts
  
• annual gathering
  
• marriages arranged by sister exchange: Hawaiian kinship system
  
• face painting
  
• dancing a contant in society from walking to old age


• fattening room, prospective wives sequestered
  
• fig bark cloth worn for celebrations, formal events
  
• forest as Father, source of all life
  
• each band lives in, knows, and protects a part of the forest from outsiders
  

Twa

• Rwanda, Uganda
  
• also called Pygmies
  
• building rope bridge with Stone Age tech
  
• swing vine across gorge from tall tree
  

Similarities and Differences ( amongst h/g cultures ):

• Eskimo: Inuit understanding of environment (is that polar bear left or right handed?) and Mbuti (gender, age and pregnancy of animal from tacks)
  
• community: work together and share labor, everyone knows what is expected
  
• Richard Lee's first mistake in Kalahari (!Kun): hoarding food (! == glottal stop)
  
• then: bought a large fatty bull and expected praise, but bragging was not acceptable and his generosity was suspect
  
• violates reciprocity by calculating value of gift
  
• attempted bribery with tobacco and trinkets
  
• importance of feasting
  
• 
  

readings pushed off, new schedule next week, work on presentations (either Art or Music)