Hunting and gathering: a view from within

Abstract

I would like to begin my paper by sharing with you a few personal experiences regarding hunter-gatherers' perception of hunting and gathering. The first of these occurred in August 1983 when a visiting dignitary asked a group of hunter-gatherers in the Magoh River, Baram District why they had to carry on their cumbersome tradition of moving from one place to another carrying all their belongings with them over rugged terrain, hunting and gathering as they move, but uncertain about the outcome of such activities. The nunter -gatherers did not answer the question immediately but asked if the distinguished visitor liked kuman bahe' (picnic). When he answered in the affirmative, they told him in great jest that hunting and gathering is picnic everyday! At another occasion in the same area, I took pain to explain to another group of hunter- gatherers the advantage of a settled life that if they grew their own food crops, raised their own animals, they would be assured of constant supply of food. If they also planted cash crops they would also be assured of cash income. When I finished my small speech, an old hunter-gatherer rose up to say that he was utterly confused by my remarks.