To feed or not to feed?
27 May 2012 08:21 #54086
by elinda
Replied by elinda on topic Re: To feed or not to feed?
Wasn't this the same guy who stole your gloves?? 
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27 May 2012 15:35 #54088
by ghaznavid
No, the guy who stole my gloves was on the Giant's Castle ridge. He was a nasty chap, he demanded that John gives him his cell phone, and stood around watching while we ate our lunch...
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Re: To feed or not to feed?
elinda wrote: Wasn't this the same guy who stole your gloves??
No, the guy who stole my gloves was on the Giant's Castle ridge. He was a nasty chap, he demanded that John gives him his cell phone, and stood around watching while we ate our lunch...
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28 May 2012 13:22 #54101
by thomas
Replied by thomas on topic Re: To feed or not to feed?
What a rich and debatable topic, always passionate and consistent on this forum. There are as many strategies and ideas as there are hikers. It is a constant source of irritation and misconception, stereotype and reality. If Intrepid permits I would gladly post a more lengthy document on the issues and background surrounding balisana (Sesotho for shepherds; molisana is singular) and the interface with lekhooa (white people, i.e., foreigners) in the near future.
In the meantime I can sympathize with the unwary, but there are many things that I dare say most hikers (tourists) do not know about Lesotho and its herders so little is gained by chance encounters in the Berg. I should state also that I was a long time resident in both Lesotho and South Africa and am neither a Mosotho nor South African so maybe I bring a unique and impartial perspective to the fore (which is needed).
Briefly, I too grow weary of handouts and would prefer not to. But most encounters are wrapped around talking or sized up as the encounter goes along, for I can speak the language. My number one requirement for hikers would be to arm yourself with Sesotho and even carry a few reference sheets to practice words with. I have included a link to the best language instruction booklet in the country produced by the US Peace Corps for your use in greetings, basic nouns and verbs, etc. friendsoflesotho.org/files/puo_ea_sechaba.pdf .
Balisana do want to socialize and enjoy closer scrutinization of what can appear like aliens from outerspace (hikers) who must be crazy walking voluntarily in the mountains. If ever 2 lives and cultures planets apart ever met it would be this type of encounter. I doubt any herdboy wants to be alone at 3000m with the stress of safeguarding a herd of sheep, cold, hungry and preferring the fleshpots of the lowlands. A piece of chocolate would be like manna from heaven. But as I said, most are convivial and want to chat.
Regardless of the above, I do not condone bad behaviour and no one has the right to infringe on persons with the intent to commit mischief or harm, balisana included. It is not my problem nor fault that he (they) are cold, hungry and lonely and I am not a passing provisions refuelling conveyance delivering goodies for herdboys and don’t like being thought of that way. Most do not so my introductions are based on such unless treated otherwise. It also might interest hikers to know that if the area Morena (chief) where herboys graze knew that hikers were mistreated or begged on, etc., he would be outraged if not embarrassed as an affront to Basotho culture and hospitality. No respectable Mosotho (meaning 99%) would treat any stranger less than respectably and hospitably. There are ruffians and leathernecks everywhere and those who are see the wild and untrammelled high berg as an opportunity for unnoticed criminality in contravention to proper Basotho norms. Those same ruffians would be mugging you in a city alley somewhere if you get my meaning. I remember working with a (black) Mosotho in Maseru where, while we were on a road trip to Qacha’s Nek, encountered small Basotho children begging on the road for “sweets”. Besides the fact that they were at risk of being run over, he did not like it full stop. We stopped and he took out his belt and gave them a hiding and told their mother what he thought of it. It was a display of discipline for any culture in any country.
For those of you who don’t realize it, hiking INSIDE Lesotho can be a far different experience than along its KZN eastern border. Hiking the Berg from below Bushman’s Nek to Naude’s Nek along the E. Cape border is ALSO similarly different. You would find it hard not to be invited into someone’s rondavel. I consider hiking the Berg from Mont-aux-Sources to Bushman’s Nek a separate reality from the rest of the country and it is only here, where the tourists go, that such issues as “to feed or not to feed” sometimes evolve. It would not be the first place in the world where tourism has converted and transformed localized norms and expectations. It is also the place where most tourists are encountered. It was also a place where in the old days, we did not want to be mistaken for (white) South Africans for the obvious political/racial reasons – and language was the proof since very few (white) South Africans would know a (black) South African language (for various reasons). Today, as I have experienced up and down my residences in various Africa countries, “white” is considered equivalent with privilege and money and while most people are polite and socially respectable, ignorance and lack of exposure will always create misconceptions. My point is that this cross-cultural encounter comes with far more baggage and narrative than meets the eye.
Once I have sourced out who I am talking to, and vice versa I presume, the herdboy(s) and I will determine what works best for the (brief) encounter, talk, smoke, a bite, or not, etc. That would apply all over the world, frankly.
In the meantime I can sympathize with the unwary, but there are many things that I dare say most hikers (tourists) do not know about Lesotho and its herders so little is gained by chance encounters in the Berg. I should state also that I was a long time resident in both Lesotho and South Africa and am neither a Mosotho nor South African so maybe I bring a unique and impartial perspective to the fore (which is needed).
Briefly, I too grow weary of handouts and would prefer not to. But most encounters are wrapped around talking or sized up as the encounter goes along, for I can speak the language. My number one requirement for hikers would be to arm yourself with Sesotho and even carry a few reference sheets to practice words with. I have included a link to the best language instruction booklet in the country produced by the US Peace Corps for your use in greetings, basic nouns and verbs, etc. friendsoflesotho.org/files/puo_ea_sechaba.pdf .
Balisana do want to socialize and enjoy closer scrutinization of what can appear like aliens from outerspace (hikers) who must be crazy walking voluntarily in the mountains. If ever 2 lives and cultures planets apart ever met it would be this type of encounter. I doubt any herdboy wants to be alone at 3000m with the stress of safeguarding a herd of sheep, cold, hungry and preferring the fleshpots of the lowlands. A piece of chocolate would be like manna from heaven. But as I said, most are convivial and want to chat.
Regardless of the above, I do not condone bad behaviour and no one has the right to infringe on persons with the intent to commit mischief or harm, balisana included. It is not my problem nor fault that he (they) are cold, hungry and lonely and I am not a passing provisions refuelling conveyance delivering goodies for herdboys and don’t like being thought of that way. Most do not so my introductions are based on such unless treated otherwise. It also might interest hikers to know that if the area Morena (chief) where herboys graze knew that hikers were mistreated or begged on, etc., he would be outraged if not embarrassed as an affront to Basotho culture and hospitality. No respectable Mosotho (meaning 99%) would treat any stranger less than respectably and hospitably. There are ruffians and leathernecks everywhere and those who are see the wild and untrammelled high berg as an opportunity for unnoticed criminality in contravention to proper Basotho norms. Those same ruffians would be mugging you in a city alley somewhere if you get my meaning. I remember working with a (black) Mosotho in Maseru where, while we were on a road trip to Qacha’s Nek, encountered small Basotho children begging on the road for “sweets”. Besides the fact that they were at risk of being run over, he did not like it full stop. We stopped and he took out his belt and gave them a hiding and told their mother what he thought of it. It was a display of discipline for any culture in any country.
For those of you who don’t realize it, hiking INSIDE Lesotho can be a far different experience than along its KZN eastern border. Hiking the Berg from below Bushman’s Nek to Naude’s Nek along the E. Cape border is ALSO similarly different. You would find it hard not to be invited into someone’s rondavel. I consider hiking the Berg from Mont-aux-Sources to Bushman’s Nek a separate reality from the rest of the country and it is only here, where the tourists go, that such issues as “to feed or not to feed” sometimes evolve. It would not be the first place in the world where tourism has converted and transformed localized norms and expectations. It is also the place where most tourists are encountered. It was also a place where in the old days, we did not want to be mistaken for (white) South Africans for the obvious political/racial reasons – and language was the proof since very few (white) South Africans would know a (black) South African language (for various reasons). Today, as I have experienced up and down my residences in various Africa countries, “white” is considered equivalent with privilege and money and while most people are polite and socially respectable, ignorance and lack of exposure will always create misconceptions. My point is that this cross-cultural encounter comes with far more baggage and narrative than meets the eye.
Once I have sourced out who I am talking to, and vice versa I presume, the herdboy(s) and I will determine what works best for the (brief) encounter, talk, smoke, a bite, or not, etc. That would apply all over the world, frankly.
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