1997

S2.E1 ∙ Heart of the Rift

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

The Hadza, one of the few surviving tribes of hunter-gatherers, live on the eastern shore of Lake Eyasi in Tanzania.

8.4 /10

S2.E2 ∙ The Land of Ghengis Khan

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

In post-Stalinist Mongolia, a traditionally hospitable Khalka (main tribe) family teaches Ray the nomadic herdsmen's harsh way of life on the vast, near-empty steppe. Horses, sheep and cattle provide transport, food (even alcohol distilled from milk) and fabrics. The 'nomad' festival features the traditional warrior sports wrestling, riding and archery. These skills allowed Genghis (13th century) to conquer the world's greatest empire ever. The religion combines Tibetan style Buddhism with shamanistic animism elements. The high Altai mountains are yak (bovine) country.

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S2.E3 ∙ Headwaters of the Orinoco

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Ray visits the semi-nomadic Sanema tribe, closely related to the Yanomami, who leave in the Amazon forest along the upper Orinoco. Primordial are individual hunting, by bow (different poisonous arrow heads per prey species!) or blowpipe, collective poison-fishing and palm, honey, fruit and grub gathering. Traditionally everything is cleverly home-made, including tools, weapons and canoes. Manioc is a cultivated staple food. Poisonous insects, snakes and scorpions abound. Shamans perform animist rituals.

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S2.E4 ∙ The Coromandel Coast

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Rays visits the South East Indian state Andrya Pradesh's Coromandel Coast. There highly specialized casts have specific professions, such as fishing and providing all its necessities. The local loran palm has proverbially 801 uses, indeed its fibers, wood and fruit serves many needs. Modern techniques, glass fiber and the world market change life significantly, and alas cause grave environmental dangers such as overfishing and short-sighted spawn loss because of higher prawn prices.

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S2.E5 ∙ The Barren Lands

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Ray is fascinated by the annual migration of the reindeer in Labrador, on Canada's northeastern Atlantic coast. In the winter, the temperature drops to minus 60 Celsius, as he visits a camp of the Innu. This native tribe speaks Montagnais, an Archaic French 'mountain wasteland' dialect. They are masters at survival in this barren world of snow and ice, where the sun is only visible of few hours. Crucial are fishing in ice holes and hunting with traps and guns.

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S2.E6 ∙ The Red Centre

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Central Australia, the reddish stony desert near Ayer's Rock alias Ulura, Ray joins the Pitjantjatjaras, an Anangu (Aboriginal) tribe, 3500 people in a 100,000 km2 reserve. Their oral tradition passes on animism and all concealed water (re)sources and vital extraction expertise, grueling labor in the hot sun. Nearly everything is done and made on the spot according to the 'tjukurpa' code, from natural materials, including the spear and - thrower, the arrow and bow's precursors, for traditional kangaroo and emu hunting. Their diet includes grubs and honey ants.

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