-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Adam Gottschalk
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 2:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: human evolution, vegetarianism and EE.


Bissell said:
>Adam, although I know from past experience that responding to you only
>provokes you, may I ask; have you ever been to East Africa? I have. The
>"pastoralists" you speak of are an ideal. There are many types of herders
in
>east Africa, and all of them eat very large quantities of meat. The blood
>meals you speak of are pretty much restricted to the men of the Masai and
>the Samburu. And both groups slaughter and eat their cattle on a regular
>basis. Also cattle that die, yes it actually happens, are eaten. More over
>both of these groups keep large herds of goats as well and eat them
>everyday. And, they hunt and eat wild game as well.
>
>Anyway, how does drinking blood fit into your vegetarian model?

Thank you so much for responding to my post. I am sorry you have the
impression that I am easily provoked; it's probably true, but I honestly try
to match tone with tone.

No, I have never been to East Africa. I can say nothing but I am very
doubtful about your statement that all herders of east Africa "eat very
large quantities of meat." I have always heard just the opposite. I guess it
would take a research trip to find out; but meat-eating even among those
classified as hunters is minimal (even modern hunt tools don't have much
success). I can't imagine that in places where cattle are "sanctified" that
eating them is widespread. India, is a classic example (I have been there,
big and varied as it is).

As to how drinking blood fits into vegetarianism, I'm not sure exactly. I
can say though, at least, that it is not meat eating, and therefore must
have much much less of an overall ecological impact.

Adam

Bissell here: Actually the conversion from older cultures hunter/gatherer
life to pastorial herding has drastically altered the ecology of eastern and
central Africa. I forget the reference, but there is a major study about how
the pastorialists have altered the vegetative make up of most of that part
of Africa. The only places you do not find cattle anymore are in areas where
the Tsetse fly has been able to hold out. The flies kill cattle, but not
native wildlife. The fly lives in brushy areas and the herders burn the
brush out. The last time I was in Africa we sat a top a Kopke at night and
watched fires burning over a nearly 40 mile line. The use of fire by humans
in Africa has been a major factor in contemporary ecology.

by the way, cattle are not really "sanctified" by the African herders. The
Masai believe that all the cattle of the world belong, by devine right, to
them, but they do not believe the cattle to be holy. Since you don't like my
word for it, there are a lot of books on Masai and how they live. I think
you'll find them to be big eaters of meat. As a matter of fact I remember
that until you get into the parts of Tanzania and Kenya where there are a
lot of Indians, it is difficult to find a vegetarian meal. Of course the
meat tends to be chicken, goat and fish, but I've also eaten zebra, Kudu,
Eland, and Hartebeast at different times. It all, by they way, taste like
beef except for zebra which tastes like horse, of course.

Steven



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