Whilst hunting larger or faster animals such as monkeys the Hadzabe make use of a poison prepared from a plant, found some distance from the lake. The plant tissues and sap are boiled down to a paste which hardens into a solid mass. To use the poison, the Hadzabe gently soften a small piece over a fire and spread the poison over the arrow head and barbs.
Poison being prepared for use by a Hadzabe man, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
A Hadzabe man applying the softened poison to an arrow head, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
Vervet monkeys are extremely wary of the Hadzabe and difficult to catch. A hunt begins by searching for a troop of monkeys in the thick forest at the edge of the lake. Once found, the Hadzabe run through the undergrowth, shouting and encouraging the dogs, driving the monkeys ahead of them in the hope of cornering an animal in an isolated tree top. Once a monkey is trapped, the Hadzabe fire arrows up through the broad palm leaves attempting to hit their prey from beneath. The poison then does the rest, although the hunters will often have to climb up into the tree to recover the body.
Hadzabe boy in dense undergrowth, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
Hadzabe boy running through dense undergrowth whilst hunting, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
Hadzabe hunters trying to determine the location of a monkey trapped in a tree top, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
Hadzabe hunters preparing to fire at a monkey. After working out where the monkey is hiding, the hunters fire arrows up through the leaves. Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
Hunters firing at monkeys hidden in the tree tops, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
A successful hunt – two vervet monkeys killed using poison arrows, Lake Eyasi, Tanzania.
A vervet money being cooked and eaten immediately after being killed. Apart from the intestines and stomach, every part of the animal is eaten – nothing is wasted by the Hadzabe.
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