Eland Hunting Rituals among Northern and Southern San Groups: Striking Similarities

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Periodical article

Title:	Eland Hunting Rituals among Northern and Southern San Groups: Striking Similarities
Authors:	Lewis-Williams, J. David Biesele, Megan
Year:	1978
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	48
Issue:	2
Pages:	117-134
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	South Africa Botswana
Subjects:	San hunting Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External links:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1158603 http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1978-048-00-000010
Abstract:	The prominence of the eland in San thought is suggested by the frequency with which this antilope was depicted in rock paintings and also by the myths and rituals in which it features. In this paper the authors describe and compare certain eland beliefs and hunting rituals drawn from two San group, the !Kung of Botswana and the now extinct /Xam of the Cape Province. Using the results of recent field work among the Kung, they show that, in spit of the linguistic and ecological differences, there is evidence for a conceptual framework common to both groups. Sections: the eland - San groups - ethnographic sources - the eland in San thought and art - eland hunting rituals - the first-kill rituals. Fig., notes, ref., resume en français.