The Tree where Man was BornIn this classic volume, Matthiessen exquisitely combines both nature and travel writing to bring East Africa to vivid life. He skillfully portrays the daily lives of herdsmen and hunter-gatherers; the drama of the predator kills; the hundreds of exotic animals; the breathtaking landscapes; and the area's turbulent natural, political, and social histories. |
From inside the book
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Page 29
And to the north , on a small hillock , stood four rhinoceros , one of these a calf .
The askaris approached the rhino gradually , keeping downwind — not always a
simple matter , as the light wind was variable — and eventually brought us within
...
And to the north , on a small hillock , stood four rhinoceros , one of these a calf .
The askaris approached the rhino gradually , keeping downwind — not always a
simple matter , as the light wind was variable — and eventually brought us within
...
Page 114
An exception , the rhino , is poached for its horn , which is bought from the
Maasai by Asian traders and sold in the East as an aphrodisiac ; this commerce
is at least as old as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , an account of a trading
voyage ...
An exception , the rhino , is poached for its horn , which is bought from the
Maasai by Asian traders and sold in the East as an aphrodisiac ; this commerce
is at least as old as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , an account of a trading
voyage ...
Page 172
In the next thousand feet of the descent there were rhino wallows and buffalo
sign on every side ; one kept an eye out for hospitable trees even before an
emergency had been declared . In a mahogany , Meru tribesmen had placed a
beehive ...
In the next thousand feet of the descent there were rhino wallows and buffalo
sign on every side ; one kept an eye out for hospitable trees even before an
emergency had been declared . In a mahogany , Meru tribesmen had placed a
beehive ...
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User Review - ljhliesl - LibraryThingI saw this title in my goodreads feed because a goodsreads-only acquaintance added it her to-read list without commentary. I immediately requested it from the library. Most of the books I read before ... Read full review
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User Review - satyridae - LibraryThingLovely prose, absolutely gorgeous words. Why did I have to stumble over this? Why did no one ever say to me, "Hey, you read all that nature stuff, there's this guy you positively have to read!" I ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
animals appear arrow Bantu birds buffalo bush called camp carried cattle century climb close clouds comes Crater crossed dark dead dogs early ears earth East Africa elephant eyes face fall feet fire forest four grass ground Hadza hand hard head herd hide Highlands hills hundred hunters hunting hyena Kenya Kikuyu killed known Lake Land later less light lion live look Maasai miles morning mountain moved Myles never night once park passed past perhaps plain rain region rhino rise river road rock seemed seen Serengeti shadow side soon stone stood strange thorn thought thousand track trees tribes Tsavo turned valley village walked watch wild wind wood Yaida young zebra