The Nomadic Alternative – Page 154

della Vaca, the explorer of Texas and New Mexico and first liberal voice of America, abounds in the most sensible and sympathetic observations of the resident hunters and gatherers.

It occurred to us many times while we were among this people and there was no food, to be three or four days without eating, when to revive our spirits, they would tell us not to be sad, that soon there would be prickly pears when we should eat a plenty and drink of the juice, when our bellies would be very big and we should be content and joyful, having no hunger.

"See how we do not cease laughing although we have little to eat", a Labrador Montagnais said to the 17th Century Jesuit missionary Le Jeune. How else can we explain the function of laughter but as a means of breaking tension to see us through the worst?

What had shocked Darwin about the Yaghan was their inability to concentrate. Their blurred response to a task that required prolonged labour suggested weakness of character or weakness in the head.

Later observers, noticing the same tendency elsewhere, spoke of a 'parasitic mentality' or a 'primitive intelligence'. With merry abandon the hunters squander all their resources on principle, and have an attitude to production frivolous enough to scandalize the most irresponsible trade-unionist. Hunters do not build up reserves. They actively dissipate them. There is no question of sharing wealth - only getting rid of it. Long hours of predictable work they do not find therapeutic, but adversely affecting the health.

Work is tolerable, even enjoyable, only if it comes in short irregular bursts.

James Woodburn says that the Hadza of Tanzania have rejected suggestions they take up agricultural work. Like Tacitus' Fenni, they know that farming of any kind means more work and dreary work at that. What is worse all agriculture in one way or another entails employment. And that is unthinkable. All are self-employed. The only political appointment the minimal society will tolerate is that of the camp clown or buffoon, who channels ridicule onto himself and thus acts as a safety valve against pent-up emotions getting out of hand. Gipsies will frequently delude some unestimable person into becoming their 'king'. But this fabricated royal appointment is either for their own entertainment or for external consumption