,HED4805 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
2025 (149215) - DUE 16 May 2025
With reference to the text provided, answer the following
questions:
1.1 Explain which one of the two hunting methods, i.e., the use
of bows and arrows, or the use of poison do you think was the
most effective for the San people. (15)
1.2 Briefly discuss the role of education in the hunting way of
life for San and Khoi people, and in their struggle for survival in
their indigenous environment. (10)
1.1 The Most Effective Hunting Method for the San
People
The San people, one of the oldest hunter-gatherer
societies in Southern Africa, used both bows and arrows
as well as poison in their hunting techniques. When
assessing the effectiveness of these methods, one must
consider various factors such as accuracy, lethality,
hunting success rates, and the survival skills required.
The Use of Bows and Arrows
Bows and arrows were an essential tool for the San
people, enabling them to hunt game from a distance while
minimizing risk. The bows used were small and made
from flexible wood, while the arrows were lightweight,
,often tipped with bone or metal points. The effectiveness
of this method was based on several factors:
Precision and Stealth: Bows allowed the San
hunters to target animals from a safe distance,
reducing the likelihood of injury from larger and
more dangerous animals.
Reusability and Portability: Arrows could be
retrieved and reused, and the bow itself was
lightweight and easy to carry during long hunting
expeditions.
Skill-Based Efficiency: Skilled hunters could target
an animal’s vital organs, ensuring a quick and
humane kill. However, this required significant
expertise, as an ill-placed arrow could only wound
the animal, leading to a long and exhausting chase.
Despite these advantages, bows alone were often
insufficient to bring down large animals such as elands,
kudus, and wildebeests. Many animals, even when struck,
could continue to run for several kilometers, making
tracking necessary. This limitation led to the
incorporation of poison to enhance the lethality of the
arrows.
The Use of Poison
The San people significantly improved their hunting
success by using poison on their arrows. The poison,
, derived from sources such as beetle larvae (Diamphidia),
plant sap, or snake venom, would cause paralysis, organ
failure, or slow death in animals.
Increased Lethality: Even if an arrow did not hit a
vital organ, the poison would eventually incapacitate
the animal, preventing it from running indefinitely.
Greater Success Rates: Hunters could strike an
animal, then track it at a more relaxed pace,
conserving energy and reducing the risk of
exhaustion.
Long-Lasting Effects: Poison remained effective
even if the arrow did not kill the prey immediately,
which meant that even smaller, non-fatal wounds
could lead to a successful hunt.
Strategic Advantage: By using poison, the San
could hunt larger and more powerful animals that
they otherwise would not have been able to kill with
a single arrow.
Comparative Effectiveness
While both methods were essential to San survival,
poison-tipped arrows were arguably the more effective
hunting technique. This is because:
1. It reduced the need for perfect accuracy – A
poisoned arrow did not have to strike a critical organ
2025 (149215) - DUE 16 May 2025
With reference to the text provided, answer the following
questions:
1.1 Explain which one of the two hunting methods, i.e., the use
of bows and arrows, or the use of poison do you think was the
most effective for the San people. (15)
1.2 Briefly discuss the role of education in the hunting way of
life for San and Khoi people, and in their struggle for survival in
their indigenous environment. (10)
1.1 The Most Effective Hunting Method for the San
People
The San people, one of the oldest hunter-gatherer
societies in Southern Africa, used both bows and arrows
as well as poison in their hunting techniques. When
assessing the effectiveness of these methods, one must
consider various factors such as accuracy, lethality,
hunting success rates, and the survival skills required.
The Use of Bows and Arrows
Bows and arrows were an essential tool for the San
people, enabling them to hunt game from a distance while
minimizing risk. The bows used were small and made
from flexible wood, while the arrows were lightweight,
,often tipped with bone or metal points. The effectiveness
of this method was based on several factors:
Precision and Stealth: Bows allowed the San
hunters to target animals from a safe distance,
reducing the likelihood of injury from larger and
more dangerous animals.
Reusability and Portability: Arrows could be
retrieved and reused, and the bow itself was
lightweight and easy to carry during long hunting
expeditions.
Skill-Based Efficiency: Skilled hunters could target
an animal’s vital organs, ensuring a quick and
humane kill. However, this required significant
expertise, as an ill-placed arrow could only wound
the animal, leading to a long and exhausting chase.
Despite these advantages, bows alone were often
insufficient to bring down large animals such as elands,
kudus, and wildebeests. Many animals, even when struck,
could continue to run for several kilometers, making
tracking necessary. This limitation led to the
incorporation of poison to enhance the lethality of the
arrows.
The Use of Poison
The San people significantly improved their hunting
success by using poison on their arrows. The poison,
, derived from sources such as beetle larvae (Diamphidia),
plant sap, or snake venom, would cause paralysis, organ
failure, or slow death in animals.
Increased Lethality: Even if an arrow did not hit a
vital organ, the poison would eventually incapacitate
the animal, preventing it from running indefinitely.
Greater Success Rates: Hunters could strike an
animal, then track it at a more relaxed pace,
conserving energy and reducing the risk of
exhaustion.
Long-Lasting Effects: Poison remained effective
even if the arrow did not kill the prey immediately,
which meant that even smaller, non-fatal wounds
could lead to a successful hunt.
Strategic Advantage: By using poison, the San
could hunt larger and more powerful animals that
they otherwise would not have been able to kill with
a single arrow.
Comparative Effectiveness
While both methods were essential to San survival,
poison-tipped arrows were arguably the more effective
hunting technique. This is because:
1. It reduced the need for perfect accuracy – A
poisoned arrow did not have to strike a critical organ
