The manufacture of bow strings from plant materials is a skill that has been practiced by Bushmen for a relatively short period of time. Around the year 1900, they learned from neighboring Bantu-speaking tribes how to use Sansevieria fibers to…

The topic of the composition of Bushmen arrows for hunting is vast and intricate. Numerous anthropological studies have documented the unique designs utilized by nearly every family group of Bushmen in Southern Africa. These designs are often a result of…

The Bushmen, generally speaking, employ bows and poisoned arrows for the purpose of “tracking and stalking” during hunting in Northern Namibia and North-Western Botswana. The various Bushmen tribes utilize different materials and techniques for crafting these weapons. However, in this…

Sansevieria and its leaves used to be a genus of flowering plants that originated in Africa and southern Asia. This former genus has about 70 species with common English names such as mother-in-law’s tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant, and…

Zulu knobkerries are basically wooden clubs with a knob on one end. Together with assegais (throwing spears), they are the symbols of the Zulu nation in South Africa. And these two weapons are even part of the South African Coat…

For wax extraction, the empty combs are first put in water which is heated until the wax melts. The liquid is then poured through a piece of coarse cloth and while still hot this is twisted or squeezed until as…

Locally made-up smokers and overalls are used for inspection or harvesting the hives as an improvised equipment. These have also become expensive and are often shared by a group of beekeepers. Improvised protective overalls The coveralls are made from old…

In recent years the shortage and expense of timber and corrugated iron sheet have encouraged people to use alternative materials for beehives. The range of substitutes includes old 200-liter fuel drums cut in half. Their ends removed, and their sides…

Kerries are a combination of throwsticks and wooden clubs, used as an every-day tool for hunting, defense and/or digging in Southern Africa. Australian aboriginals used a refined form of throwsticks, which was flattened over its whole length and was called…

Common names Nkansu ngo (= claw of the leopard), Leopard claw grass, nzefo za ngo, kansingo (Kongo) Description A perennial grass with culms 30 – 150 cm high, growing from scaly rhizomes. Leaf blades are spear shaped, 10 – 40…

Synonym C. laurentii:; Common names Nkau (Kongo), Rotin (Fr.), Rattan vine Description A slender to moderately robust rattan palm, climbing up to 20 m high, and often forming dense clumps. The stems and leaves are armed with spines. Stems have…

Squid traps seem to be at first sight a quite natural way of catching these cephalopods throughout South-East Asia in shallow sea waters. Such traps are used in waters about 6 – 15 meters deep and held in between a…

Learning the craft of bamboo fish trap weaving Correct English wording for a ‘Lop’ in Thai language would be ‘Horizontal cylinder trap with entry cone’. It is used for catching a variety of freshwater fish and crustaceans. This includes small…

A new home for over 100 different fishing traps and implements After leaving Thailand for an assignment in China it was difficult to find the right place for my fish trap collection. Originally, I wanted to open up some kind…

Grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) and grass tree stalks are endemic to Australia and are locally called ‘Black Boys’ due to their appearance after bush fires. They need a certain number of regular fires for their survival and are well protected against…

The common name ‘Spinifex grass’ is not fully correct as a botanical term for discussed grasses, as commonly named ‘Spinifex’ grasses belong to the genus ‘Triodia’, whereas the genus ‘Spinifex’ itself contains mainly coastal grasses. Whatever it is, the common…

Many National Parks, Private Game Reserves and Game Farms in Southern Africa are under heavy pressure of snares for poaching. Not only poaching for rhino horn, but also indiscriminate poaching for meat. Rhino horn poaching is mainly organized by internationally…