The Social Organization of the Kung (!UN) Bushmen of the North-Western Kalahari

Extract

With some previous knowledge of these people I had expected to ascertain on inquiry that they had a set if simple form of government and something more or less regular in their group and tribal organization, whereas I find that there is no cohesion or co-operation between groups or collections of groups, chieftainship hardly exists, and there is little or nothing in the way of a judicial system. What may have been custom seems to have been replaced to a great extent by habit and impulse, the interest of the individual is paramount to the exclusion of the good of the community—in short their mode of life, in spite of what may be said cf co-operative food quest, is the most complete expression of individualism, and any man who in astuteness and cunning, bravery and endurance, or in other similar qualities shows himself to be ahead of his fellows becomes their unacknowledged leader.

Résumé

L'ORGANISATION SOCIALE DES BUSHMEN KUNG DU KALAHARI

Parmi les Bushmen Kung on ne trouve point de cohésion ou co-opération entre les différents groupes ou collections de groupes. L'idée du chef, ainsi que l'idée judiciaire ne semblent guère exister. Cependant, dès qu'on approfondit l'étude des coutumes on trouve les traces d'une plus haute culture avec des chefs dirigeant la tribu et des coutumes acceptées, comme la loi administrée par les anciens. De nos jours on dirait que les facteurs dominant l'organisation sociale sont l'opinion. publique et les intérêts immédiats de la communauté.