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. |
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Page 82
Today the three fishers wore mission shorts who only a few years ago had worn
fish skins or gone naked Hundreds of feet above the lake is a strange old rock
with two parallel lines of thirteen holes in its flat surface , carved for the ancient ...
Today the three fishers wore mission shorts who only a few years ago had worn
fish skins or gone naked Hundreds of feet above the lake is a strange old rock
with two parallel lines of thirteen holes in its flat surface , carved for the ancient ...
Page 107
Beyond the ash plain , in the vicinity of Seronera , the soil is derived from granitic
rock and supports an open woodland vegetation . This is some of the oldest rock
on earth — certain granites here are two to three billion years old — and on the ...
Beyond the ash plain , in the vicinity of Seronera , the soil is derived from granitic
rock and supports an open woodland vegetation . This is some of the oldest rock
on earth — certain granites here are two to three billion years old — and on the ...
Page 109
In the still heat that precedes rain , a skink , striped brown , raised its head out of
the rock as if to sniff the flowers and putrefaction . A variable sunbird , iridescent ,
sipped from a fire - colored leonotis , blurred wings a tiny shadow on the sky ; it ...
In the still heat that precedes rain , a skink , striped brown , raised its head out of
the rock as if to sniff the flowers and putrefaction . A variable sunbird , iridescent ,
sipped from a fire - colored leonotis , blurred wings a tiny shadow on the sky ; it ...
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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
LibraryThing Review
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