Kazunobu Ikeya

Goat raising among the San in the central Kalahari.

In this paper, the goat raising practices among the San are analyzed with particular reference to the technical and socio-economic aspects. Each of the 35 camps of the #Kade area had goats. The number of goats in a camp varied considerably, from 8 to 440 goats. The San have techniques to identify she-goats and their kids and young goats to castrate the adult males. Goats are raised not only to be exchanged for shoes, donkeys, radio sets, or horses, but also to be sold to merchants visiting from outside the area. The goats kept in the corral of a camp do not necessarily all belong to the members of the camp. Some people have their goats consigned to other camps. Such consignment relationships serve to further confirm and strengthen the social relations, between the consignor and the consignee, throughout a large part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Hunting with Dogs among the San in the Central Kalahari

Among the Central Kalahari San, hunting with dogs was once only of secondary importance to that with traps or bows and arrows. In recent years, hunting with bows and arrows has declined, whereas that with dogs has become more common. Dogs play an important role when the San hunt large antelopes with spears, or medium-sized animals with sticks. Hunting success depends on the hunters skill in identifying footprints and timing for throwing the spear, and the chasing and fighting abilities of the dog. The owners of the dogs participating in a hunt share the game. Three factors can be identified for the increase in dog hunting. Firstly, dogs have increased dramatically. Secondly, dog hunting does not require hunters to learn new skills, and convenient for the San who travel long distance on foot. Thirdly, hides of medium-sized animals and dried gemsbok meat have become important source of cash in a developing commercial economy.

Dry Farming among the San in the Central Kalahari

In this paper, dry farming among the San is analyzed with the emphasis on farming techniques, methods of land use, agricultural management and the distribution of agricultural products. In 1993, fields were made at 40 locations in Xade extending 20 km from the central settlement. The size of the fields ranged from less than 10 ares to more than 100 ares. The land use includes combined cultivation of watermelon, cowpea and maize. There are 10 varieties of cultivated watermelon grown for the fruit, and 3 varieties for the seeds. Due to the distribution system for watermelons among the San, it is impossible for farmers to become rich from a good harvest.

Road Construction and Handicraft Production in the Xade Area, Botswana

This paper aims to clarify the involvement of people living in the Xade area in roadwork and in the handicraft production. The total amount of wages and craft sales paid in the area approximately 3600 pula, 1200 pula per month, respectively. The laborers are employed without difference in pay exists between the sexes and ethnic groups. The San prefer to manufacture hunting tool kits, and the Kgalagadi purchase skins, from the San to make bags with fasteners. Despite the opportunity for high cash earning from them, there are very few people who continue in either of these jobs. For San people who prefer not to commit themselves to a lifestyle involving long-term methodical work, this is a reflection of the Sans preference for a flexible subsistence lifestyle.

Biodiversity, Native Domestic Animals, and Livelihood in Monsoon Asia: Pig Pastoralism in the Bengal Delta of Bangladesh

Geographers study our interactions with other living creatures. Here, life can be classed into three categories by the degree of human-creature interaction: wild animals and plants; domestic animals and cultivated plants bred for food; and pets and houseplants, kept for cultural reasons. We have to find ways to live with creatures and maintain earth’s biodiversity. Modern society often promotes the protection of wild animals and plants and wilderness biodiversity, but neglects the diversity of indigenous domestic animals. Some localized domestic animals are faced with extinction. Should we maintain the genetic and cultural diversity of domestic animals? The cultural and biological diversity of farm animals from dry lands is well documented, but little attention has been paid to domestic animals from wet environments; for example, Monsoon Asia. For this reason, I chose to study pig farming in the Bengal delta of Bangladesh. Pig farming in this area uses the natural resources of the delta and local breeds of pigs in a nomadic pastoral farming system. The results of my study illustrate the use and management of farm animals in a complex environment, and increase our understanding of human-farm-animal interaction and the ‘geography of creature cultures’. The study provides lessons for the future of our culture and civilization.

Musculoskeletal System of Huge Tarsometatarsal Region in the Dong Tao Fowls from North Vietnam

A macroscopic examination of the huge leg of the Dong Tao breed from North Vietnam was conducted. Bone and muscular tendon morphometric data demonstrated that the Dong Tao breed was equipped with the extraordinarily thick and large tarsometatarsal bone and distal parts of the related tibiotarsus regions. Morphological differences between dorsal and plantar sides were clearly observed. First, on the dorsal side, fleshy bundles were extended effectively using the enlarged dorsal surface of tarsometatarsal bone shown as Musuculus extensor digitorum brevis, M. extensor digiti I brevis and M. adductor digiti IV. The strong and fleshy extensor bellies of M. tibialis cranialis and M. extensor digitorum longus were enlarged in the crural region, functioning to dorsally pull the heavy tarsometatarsal region through the ankle joint. Second, on the plantar side, the flexor tendon groups around the ankle joint were wider and thicker than those of other ordinary breeds, possibly to stabilize the tarsometatarsal bone and to flex the phalange as observed in M. flexor perforatus digiti II, M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II, M. flexor perforatus digiti III, M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti III, M. flexor perforatus digiti IV, and M. flexor perforans digitorum profundus. The mass of the huge tarsometatarsal region does not contribute to effective locomotion in the Dong Tao fowl in comparison with that associated with normal breeds. However, we suggest that these morphological changes in the musculoskeletal system may functionally compensate for the physical disadvantages of the large weight of the distal part of the hindlimb in the Dong Tao fowl.