!Xuma
28-07-08, 07:45 PM
Simplicity
We all love our hunting gear – hi-tech bows, super straight carbon arrows, the latest broadheads. Not to mention the camo clothing, binoculars, range finder and GPS. We need a camo backpack to carry all of these and then the hydration pack or water bottles.
We spend a fortune on all of these and if a new bow comes out – we’re all shiny eyes, drinking less beer to buy that new bow – it’s going to make all the difference the next hunt. We are hi-tech, we have the technology and the money to keep up with the whole show. I mean, if you’re anything like me – then you drag yourself out of bed each morning, tackle that job – while thinking/planning the next hunting trip. We work to hunt – now and then someone is lucky enough to hunt only, that’s work.
Let’s take a short walk into the life of a true hunter – the African Bushmen. He has a simple philosophy in life – only take what you need. Therefore he doesn’t need much. He’s part of nature – not against it. He doesn’t want to grow things, that will only destroy his place. He doesn’t want to breed animals, he’s happy with what nature provides. He doesn’t want to change anything ……….. why?? He’s in paradise already.
If he finds a nest with two eggs – he leaves one – for his children and their children. If he sees a fat Eland and he doesn’t need food – he greets it, “I see you Eland,” thanking it for being there. He is not a greedy man, he’s a patient man – tomorrow is another day. He looks after nature and nature looks after him. His biggest problem is his fellow man – black and white. He doesn’t understand other people and their ways – he understands nature. Do you sometimes get that feeling while you’re out there??
He makes his own bow from the mukekete tree – he takes his time, staring deep into the fire at night – the light dancing on the wrinkles of his face. He is a patient man – this bow is his life – he puts all his energy into it. If he makes it according to the principles, then his son might be able to use it. He patiently makes the bowstring from sinews. He carefully picks straight reeds of Elephant grass for his arrows. He forge the precious metal into tiny broadheads. He ties them to the ‘link’ with the sinews out of a ‘springhares’ tail. He carefully cuts a knock into the reed and strengthen it with the same sinews.
Tomorrow he is going to collect the necessary larvae – the main ingredient for the poison. He’s going to look for the ‘quiver tree’ – he wants to make the perfect quiver. This must carry his arrow – not more than eight, as well as his fire sticks and the gum for attaching the poison to the shaft of his arrow heads.
He has already made a leather sling from buffalo hide – this will carry his quiver, spear and bow. If needed it’ll also carry an ostrich egg with water. If he can find the right metal, he’ll make a small ax, with a removable blade. He’ll carry a “knopkierie” – a throwing stick made form the mugoro tree – he’ll use it to swiftly kill a small animal weakened by the poison of his arrows. He’ll use the spear for bigger animals. The “knopkierie” is also used as a throwing device to kill hares, monkeys and birds. In the leather sling, he’ll also carry a digging stick – for digging up various edible roots and bulbs – also for digging up the larvae for the poison.
Leather sling containing bow, spear and quiver
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k388/XXuma/Bushmen/Bushmenhunter.jpg
This is a fairly 'modern' Bushmen - check out the piece of rio steel in the sling. Also look at the cap of the quiver - this is normally the testicals 'sack' of an antilope.
He’s only clothing is a leather loincloth. He walks the earth barefoot, his feet as tough as leather. Walking barefoot and without clothing, he can stalk as silently as any other predator. In winter he might carry a light ‘karros’ – a ‘blanket’ made from animal skin – his only protection against below zero desert temperatures.
He doesn’t need to change or better his hunting equipment or himself – he fits into nature like the last piece of a puzzle. He’s and efficient man, a simple man – he’s the first bow hunter.
We all love our hunting gear – hi-tech bows, super straight carbon arrows, the latest broadheads. Not to mention the camo clothing, binoculars, range finder and GPS. We need a camo backpack to carry all of these and then the hydration pack or water bottles.
We spend a fortune on all of these and if a new bow comes out – we’re all shiny eyes, drinking less beer to buy that new bow – it’s going to make all the difference the next hunt. We are hi-tech, we have the technology and the money to keep up with the whole show. I mean, if you’re anything like me – then you drag yourself out of bed each morning, tackle that job – while thinking/planning the next hunting trip. We work to hunt – now and then someone is lucky enough to hunt only, that’s work.
Let’s take a short walk into the life of a true hunter – the African Bushmen. He has a simple philosophy in life – only take what you need. Therefore he doesn’t need much. He’s part of nature – not against it. He doesn’t want to grow things, that will only destroy his place. He doesn’t want to breed animals, he’s happy with what nature provides. He doesn’t want to change anything ……….. why?? He’s in paradise already.
If he finds a nest with two eggs – he leaves one – for his children and their children. If he sees a fat Eland and he doesn’t need food – he greets it, “I see you Eland,” thanking it for being there. He is not a greedy man, he’s a patient man – tomorrow is another day. He looks after nature and nature looks after him. His biggest problem is his fellow man – black and white. He doesn’t understand other people and their ways – he understands nature. Do you sometimes get that feeling while you’re out there??
He makes his own bow from the mukekete tree – he takes his time, staring deep into the fire at night – the light dancing on the wrinkles of his face. He is a patient man – this bow is his life – he puts all his energy into it. If he makes it according to the principles, then his son might be able to use it. He patiently makes the bowstring from sinews. He carefully picks straight reeds of Elephant grass for his arrows. He forge the precious metal into tiny broadheads. He ties them to the ‘link’ with the sinews out of a ‘springhares’ tail. He carefully cuts a knock into the reed and strengthen it with the same sinews.
Tomorrow he is going to collect the necessary larvae – the main ingredient for the poison. He’s going to look for the ‘quiver tree’ – he wants to make the perfect quiver. This must carry his arrow – not more than eight, as well as his fire sticks and the gum for attaching the poison to the shaft of his arrow heads.
He has already made a leather sling from buffalo hide – this will carry his quiver, spear and bow. If needed it’ll also carry an ostrich egg with water. If he can find the right metal, he’ll make a small ax, with a removable blade. He’ll carry a “knopkierie” – a throwing stick made form the mugoro tree – he’ll use it to swiftly kill a small animal weakened by the poison of his arrows. He’ll use the spear for bigger animals. The “knopkierie” is also used as a throwing device to kill hares, monkeys and birds. In the leather sling, he’ll also carry a digging stick – for digging up various edible roots and bulbs – also for digging up the larvae for the poison.
Leather sling containing bow, spear and quiver
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k388/XXuma/Bushmen/Bushmenhunter.jpg
This is a fairly 'modern' Bushmen - check out the piece of rio steel in the sling. Also look at the cap of the quiver - this is normally the testicals 'sack' of an antilope.
He’s only clothing is a leather loincloth. He walks the earth barefoot, his feet as tough as leather. Walking barefoot and without clothing, he can stalk as silently as any other predator. In winter he might carry a light ‘karros’ – a ‘blanket’ made from animal skin – his only protection against below zero desert temperatures.
He doesn’t need to change or better his hunting equipment or himself – he fits into nature like the last piece of a puzzle. He’s and efficient man, a simple man – he’s the first bow hunter.