primitive tribes - been wondering about this

r-marie · **Joined:** Thu May 22, 2008 1:54 pm **Posts:** 301

I've watched a lot of documentaries over the years, depicting the lives of various primitive tribes living in the jungle, rain forest, etc. The men tend to go out each day and hunt for any kind of animal they can catch. The women stay at home and are seen digging roots and picking berries. The main addition to their diet seems to be sago starch obtained through a laborious process from the sago bark.

What I have never seen is the women preparing GREENS - any kind. You'd think that living in the jungle with lush vegetation everywhere there'd be some kind of green plant they could eat and enjoy - other than for occasional medicinal use.

Just wondering.

(from wikipedia: "Sago /ˈseɪɡoʊ/ is a starch extracted in the spongy center or pith, of various tropical palm stems, especially Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak and sagu. A type of flour, called sago flour, is made from sago.")

Gramma Jackie · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:20 pm

As in most parts of the world, there are very few primitive tribes that have not been influenced by other cultures. That being said I found this website that shows some of the "greens" that they eat. Of course the more "civilized" recipes (aka the equivalant if the SAD* diet or the BAD** diet)are those pushed off onto the native peoples who live in towns.

*SAD: Standard American Diet
**BAD: British Awful Diet

http://www.pngbuai.com/600technology/cookery/index.html

scooterpie · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2011 9:08 am **Posts:** 889

I remember a doc about a tribe in the Amazon that harvested these huge grubworms and let them eat the core of a split log for a bit of time (I guess to ensure their alimentary canal was relatively clean) and then the people would barbecue the worms. The visitors tasted them and said they tasted like lobster. I don't remember any discussion about greens.

MikkoL · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:58 pm

r-marie wrote:

I've watched a lot of documentaries over the years, depicting the lives of various primitive tribes living in the jungle, rain forest, etc.

Sorry if I'm side stepping here from the original topic... Still I would like to know, if you can recommend some good ones to watch. I have watched all three seasons of Bruce Parry's Tribe and Discovery Channel's World's Lost Tribes: Living with the Kombai. Parry's series was very enlightening, and I liked it very much. I have been watching some of the episodes several times. The one about a tribe living in a Pacific island being my favorite. It would be so nice, if you (or anyone else) could provide some good recommendations for further watching.

Samsy · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:13 am

We are also watching the odd episode of "Living with the Kombai": on Discovery World, which we are finding really fascinating.

I was wondering exactly the same thing r-marie:
In the next episode the tribe face starvation, but why, when they are surrounded by such lush greenery?

I found the following on the Discovery website (Kombai facts):

Quote:

Eating
The Kombai are hunter-gatherers, moving from place to place during long treks in search of food. They eat cassowary birds, riflebirds, wild pigs, grasshoppers, tree kangaroos and snakes. However, their main protein comes from the larvae of the Capricorn beetle, also coined the 'sago grub'.
They also eat biscuit-like concoctions called sago, which are made from the pulp of the sago tree. The pulp is turned into flour and then baked or steamed. It is supplemented with green bananas, cucumbers, mushrooms, fruits and berries. Palm leaves and ferns make up their diet as well. The Kombai cook with hot stones.

http://www.yourdiscovery.com/worldslosttribes/facts/index.shtml

They do eat plants, but looks like they rely on animal (insect) protein as their main source of food?
I haven't watched an episode relating to their diet.

r-marie · **Joined:** Thu May 22, 2008 1:54 pm **Posts:** 301

Thanks for 'veering' off my original question because I too am running out of my favorites and am having trouble finding new ones.

My most recent enjoyment came from the Van Tulleken twins who are both doctors but seem to have stopped making these kinds of documentaries. They are very handsome and - expecially Chris - fearless. http://vantullekenbrothers.com/vantulle ... leken.html

And before that I really enjoyed watching Mark and Ollie “Living with the Tribes” presented by BBC. I think I've seen all of those shows as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_%26_O ... the_Tribes

I'm looking forward to any new links from you to shows like it. And thank you.

MikkoL · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:46 pm

r-marie wrote:

My most recent enjoyment came from the Van Tulleken twins who are both doctors but seem to have stopped making these kinds of documentaries. They are very handsome and - expecially Chris - fearless. http://vantullekenbrothers.com/vantulle ... leken.html

And before that I really enjoyed watching Mark and Ollie “Living with the Tribes” presented by BBC. I think I've seen all of those shows as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_%26_O ... the_Tribes

Thank you for these suggestions! I have watched the first season of Mark and Ollie's series. Just have to try to find the other seasons somewhere.

Unfortunately I don't have much further recommendations for you. Bruce Parry and Mark Anstice did Cannibals and Crampons. In my opinion it was not as great as Parry's Tribe series. I bought the BBC's Tribe DVD box, which has that earlier documentary as a bonus. Journey of Man has some info related to tribes, but it mainly is about human migration and evolution.

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