Chapter 969 Changing Teams (1/2)

Cheeks told Li Du a lot of traditions related to the Hadza. He said that there were no written notes of their tribe's history; it all depended on word of mouth.

But they were not lonely at all in the vast grassland. There were the Iraqw, Datooga, Isanzu, Sukuma, Nyiramba, Maasai and other tribes. They had long communicated with many other tribes and lived together.

Each ethnic group had their own language. They all had a common second language, and that was Swahili, and it made communication possible.

Each tribe also had their own territories. The Hadza people exchanged prey for metal arrowheads forged by the Datooga people, who exchanged animal skins with the Isanzu people for tents, who exchanged further goods, including women, with the Sukuma tribe.

Polygamy was highly common in many places of Africa. The Hadza people more closely resembled modern society in this regard because most of the people in their tribe were monogamous.

Li Du said, ”This is really great. Obviously, you guys respect women more.”

Cheeks laughed and then said, ”No. It's because our people are not good at saving and gathering money, hence we don't have extra money saved to exchange for wives.”

Cheeks, who had received a higher education, was very honest. He told Li Du that the Hadza people did not have high levels of loyalty in their marriages. Even though they did not have several wives at the same time, they often exchanged partners with others.

But the Hadza women were also very valiant. They appeare to accept polygamy, but if their husbands dared to fool around, they would be furious and fight them. They might even take their children to join other families. They would use many different ways to get back at their husbands.

When Sophie arrived, the Hadza people grew even more excited. A young man gave Sophie a straw wreath. There were some vibrantly colored bird feathers in it—it was very beautiful.

Sophie accepted it with a smile. Cheeks told Li Du, ”This kid is very fond of your wife.”

”Then it means he is a great judge of beauty.”

Cheeks was stunned, and then he laughed out loud.

He liked Li Du's generosity and kindness. This was why after breakfast he insistintly invited Li Du to join the tribe's hunters in hunting.

Li Du considered it for a long moment, and he went to talk with Mr. Lion Hunter. He told him that he was ready to experience the Hadza people's hunting life, and asked if Mr. Lion Hunter was interested as well.

Mr. Lion Hunter said, ”They will only hunt mice, birds, and such. What's the point in that? Today I am going to hunt a lion. Are you sure you don't want to go with me?”

Li Du was not interested in hunting fierce animals at all. Both Ah Ow and Ah Meow were already fierce animals. Hunting other fierce animals would make them feel insecure.

So, they temporarily parted ways. Sophie and he had joined in the Hadza people's hunting party.

The Hadza people usually did not accept outside women into their tribe, but because Sophie had given the kids many chocolates, milk candies, and other tidbits, and also because she was poised and elegant, the tribe welcomed her.

Due to the differences in judgment for beauty in different tribes, Sophie, who had a pretty face, was actually not a beauty in the eyes of the Hadza people. In their eyes, a tall and thicker woman was more attractive. A stronger body indicated better chances of bearing children, and it also meant that the woman was healthier.

Perhaps the Hadza people did not think Sophie was beautiful, but temperament was universal. Beauty in temperament could directly touch someone's soul. So, the people still liked her a lot.

Big Ivan had brought booze for the Hadza people; he thought that these native black men would like strong alcoholic drinks. But in the end, he was rejected.

The Hadza people were not good at drinking. They would get drunk even on their fermented fruit wine. And these people were afraid of losing self-control and staring trouble.

Because of this, most Hadza camps had a rule that they would not accept booze from any outsiders. But they were very interested in the iron alcohol jug that Big Ivan had brought along. They poured the alcohol out and used it for plain water instead.

Big Ivan was disappointed. ”For God's sake, please don't pour that away! That was vodka I brought all the way from the Ukraine—it wasn't easy to get!”

After the sun rose, the hunters were ready to depart.