Thanks you for sharing; I really enjoyed reading it. It sounds like a fabulous trip. I like that you tackle with intelligence and sensitivity what it is that drives hunters, what it is they feel about what they do, as well as the issues around african game hunting. I wonder if it's an indulgent, Western, capitalist, European thing to experience that bitter-sweet moment when the quarry is brought to bag?
Here is a Poem by Neil Murray, a local singer/song writer who has spent much time in central Australia with the traditional owners:
"Emu Hunter"
In the flat country between the dunes
Ginger Tjakamarra Studied the tracks of emu.
He knew their business,
two days before
he'd seen their tracks fresh that day
knew they were heading for water
that they'd return the same way
he'd waited
all day hiding
when they came
he shot three of them
Now his camp was hungry again so he's after more.
Squatting down on his haunches
he points out at the prints in the earth and explains:
"these two fella wednesday
this one today- early
these six fella my mob
won't be back for about fortnight
- they've lost three bloke"
"sorry camp" I suggested
"yuwa" he said "they a little bit sorry".
"you shot them"
"yuwa"
"you feel sorry for them?"
"wiya"
(Yuwa = yes, Wiya = no, nothing)
