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PYGMIES NOTES from CHILDREN OF THE FORREST Painting one’s face means relaxing, making
beautiful. This makes the forest
rejoice. They have all they need.
Crime and war are unknown. Cooperation to catch game. Each family makes a net and maintains it.
Men tend the nets, women (beaters) chase the animals into the nets. They have dogs for pets. Surplus of meat may lead to keeping an small animal
as a pet, till they get hungry again. Mirrors are unknown. Friends apply make-up to each other. A mixture of forest fruit and milk makes the make-up. No two designs are alike among the women’s make-up.
This fosters creativity. Pygmy man is not involved in the birth of children. Children enter the womb of forest when wrapped in a
bark cloth. Every man is “father”, every woman “mother.”
Man and women play with children. People will break away if food is scarce. Monogamy generally prevails. Family members sleep together.
One cannot be truly alone. Sangu: killed and elephant.
Has high status because of this. Meat stored in baskets hanging on the wall.
(it is smoked). The fire is always burning.
Carry burning logs with fire in it.
Do not want to bring in fire-making methods from the farmers. Playing passes knowledge from one generation to the
next. Hoop dance teaches children skills needed for adult life. Pygmies value cleanliness. Short hair reduces lice.
Bathe as often as possible. Boys learn to hunt at young age (two).
Butterflies, toads. Snakes. Horned viper: one of the most poisonous: good food. Poison arrows. A
leaf guides the arrow. Plants, insects, and berries make the poison.
It has to be applied in layers. Colobus monkey is a favorite food source. Some cultivate foods and arrows with iron tips for
jungle food and medicinal plants. Pygmies have to agree to farmers’ traditions to
make their gods happy. Marriage and
circumcision. Rituals.
Painting, rubbing and oiling (palm oil) the body.
Decorated bride. Beating the bride is to ward off evil spirits. Circumcision: leaf with herbal mixture and salt bind
the wound. Switching distracts the
mind from the pain. Pygmies dance to thank the villagers for their
hospitality. Hunting dances remind the women that the forest is
the mother of them all. Egyptians called Pygmies the dancers of god. Intonation of ancient Pygmy language is all that is
left of their early language. Now
they tend to speak Kingwana
(Swahili) with an ancient Pygmy accent. Mongongo leaf: mats, hut covering, drinking cups. Pygmies overhear each others conversations, provoking
laughter, sometimes. Pygmies move on a monthly basis to prevent build up
of wastes Rivers provide clean water for bathing (no soap) To thank the forest: fires, sing, hold the forest in
great reverence Army ants: attack humans too. Wounds: healing with medicinal plants. Cloth: from tree bark. Pounded with elephant tusk hammer to soften the bark cloth. Dyes: each design is different.
No fixed patterns. Sangu: loner: likes to hunt alone.
Blacken faces to look like chimps so as to be less threatening to the
forest animals Iko: ceremonial drink: green berries and the cola nut
(cafein) stimulant in Coca Cola. No cups, so the Pygmies use leaves.
Drinking from the same leaf indicates a bonding. The meat is shared by all. Men leave camp without farewells.
Malenghe (termite hill fungus): food. They love mushrooms and honey: When meat is scarce: leaves fruits, nuts, wild
berries, mushrooms. Vegetation gives clues as to where one can find
edible roots. Marijuana is smoked when there is time: it is
supplied by the villagers. Gabandu and Sangu find elephant tracks.
Removing the tips of the trunk and tail removes the
identity of the animal: this must
be done before eating the animal. The tail is brought back to camp.
No announcement: the tail is the message. The meat is smoke dried to preserve it.
Smoked meat loses 50% of its weight as the liquid is dried. Spontaneous dancing thanks the jungle and Sangu. Huts of those who may have recently caused a
disturbance may be destroyed in the elephant dance. VOCABULALRY mangungu leaves = the big, broad leaves that the Pygmies use in many ways: mats, cups, shingles. Quarry = prey Acquiesce =
give in Ridicule with impunity = make fun of with no fear of
retaliation moratorium = a delay or stoppage of an action |