|
DESERT...
|
PEOPLE |
"COUNT LASZLO DE ALMÁSY, Hungarian Explorer, squats with an ancient Arab who draws in the sand, talking in some Arcane dialect, scratching out a map."
Humans have been hunters and gatherers since ancient times to survive in deserts, but certain groups of San Bushmen in the Kalahari deserts and Aborigines in the Australians desert have few hunter-gatherers left.
The people understand their terrain well and is able to obtain water and food from it. The Bushmen are able to find edible berries and seeds and flesh roots that contain water. These are often the only source of food in the droughts. Wild game also provides food, leftovers are cut into strips and dried so that they will keep for future use. Like the Bushmen, Aborigines instantly recognize where water, plants and animals are to be found. Hunter-gatherers like these are always on the move, for the long they stay in one place the harder it becomes to find food.
|
Rearing
animals is a challenge in arid places, but is can be done where there
are seasonal rains or a scattering of oases. Some are herded in the traditional
method which reduces cattle numbers during dry periods. But now deep wells
can be dug for water, which causes the land to be overgrazed when farmers
double crop every year and do not practice fallowing.
|
 |
|
Irrigation is needed to grow crops in deserts. Oases are able to provide water for irrigation. The sunshine helps the crops to grow well. On semi arid regions, some farmers depend on seasonal rains. A minimum of 200mm of rain per annum allows farming without irriagtion. Crops planted just before the rain are called catch-crops and are usually staple foods (barley, wheat, millet, maize or vegetables). Droughts can be a disaster, leaving the young plants dying and people starving. |
