The Batek of Malaysia ANT 101 1/7/13 The Batek of Malaysia The Batik is an indigenous tribes living in the rainforest of the peninsula of Malaysia. They live in camps composed of five to six nuclear families. They are mostly foragers although the occasionally practice horticulture. To survive the tribes relies on hunting, gathering and trading rattan or forest products. Malaysia is on the south Malay Peninsula and stretches from the Thai border down to the island of Singapore.
The Mbuti are considered to be a foraging group of people or better known as hunters-gatherers because they depends primarily on wild food for subsistence. The Mbuti people are still around today because everything they do, say and portray is reflective of the rain forest, although the Mbuti’s economic organization is simple, their social organization on the other hand is not. From their beliefs and values to their social and economic structures, the Mbuti rely on their knowledge to survive (Harako 1976). The climate is divided into a rainy season from April to November and a dry season from December to March. The rain falls two out of three in the rainy season and one out of three in the dry season.
The Batek of Malaysia are a foraging society with a total population of 800 – 900 which is spread over three states, Pahang, Kelantan, and Terengganu. They subsist on plants, animals (including fish and monkeys), wild tubers, yams, fruit and honey. The Batek identify themselves as “people of the forest” and the forest as their dwelling place, source of food and refuge, and the basis for cultural continuity (Brookfield, 2007). They do not move randomly through the forest, but follow a well-defined network of walking trails and other pathways, which incorporate rivers, streams, and logging roads. Information is gathered from subtle signs, for example, from the sway of branches, the sounds of animals that penetrate through dense foliation, and from thunder and lightning.
They are foraging communities always searching for food and water. The Ituri Forest , where most are located is very rainy area, causing a lot of droughts. The Mbuti refer to the forest as mother or father because it gives them food, shelter and clothing as a parent would. After all the work is completed by noon, leaves a lot of time to dance and sing. Mbuti believe leisure activities are just as important as hunt game and gathering of wild vegetables.
It is important that they leave some resources intact however, so that it can regenerate and they can return later on (Nowak & Laird, 2010). In order to supplement their diet the Mbuti do occasionally trade with farmers from other villages in order to obtain vegetables and other carbohydrates. A unique feature of the Mbuti people is that they continue to use nets for hunting unlike most other hunters who continue to use other tools such as the bow and arrow. Net hunting is accomplished by using several people to herd game into a designated spot where a net is used to capture them. This has fascinated anthropologists and some have
They are very slow moving and loud monkeys. Howler monkeys have adapted throughout the years in order to survive. They are hunted for food by local native tribes. They are also exported as pets. They are easily located because of their loud calls.
The ververt monkey prefers woodlands of all kinds, but favors woodlands adjacent to grassland. Ververts feed on all kinds of fruits, seeds, seedpods, leaves, buds, sap, flowers, herbs, and grasses. It will also eat things like lizards, birds eggs, and insects. The ververt monkey is considered a diurnal mammal. Usually active in the early morning and late afternoon, but activity peaks vary depending on factors such as: habitat, predation, abundance of food and water.
Arboreal means “living in trees”. Koalas live, eat, and sleep in the top branches of eucalyptus trees, also known as gum trees. Male koalas have a special area on their chest that leaves a scent. They rub their chests on their “home trees” to leave their scent and mark the trees as their own. Diet The main food that Koalas eat is eucalyptus leaves.
Mbuti of the Ituri Rain Forest Mbuti of the Ituri Forest The Mbuti are hunters-gatherers of the Ituri Rain Forest. They are an egalitarian society of foragers in the tropical rain forests of Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). The Mbuti are known for hunting with nets and over half of their carbohydrate food intake is obtain by a villager exchange system. This paper will explore and detail the Economic Organization, Kinship and Belief and Values of the Mbuti. The Mbuti or BaMbuti are hunter-gathers that live primarily in the rain forests of Africa.
Critical Thinking – Kinship Organization of San Tribe The kinship organization of the San people is a multifamily grouping. They are made up of small mobile bands. These bands are “typically composed of a group of related nuclear families” or a few extend families. (Nowak & Laird, 2010, 3.7) They are a foraging society and all food is shared among each other. “San communities comprise up to about 25 men, women and children.” (Siyabona Africa, 2011, para 7) Everything they do in these small communities helps the survival of the entire family.