The Bushman Battalion

The tiny (average height 5 ft.) Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert are the oldest human inhabitants of southern Africa and one of the oldest distinct races of mankind. They speak a unique and difficult language, which one anthropologist describes as "an array of weird phonemes—clickings, croakings and raspings." They believe God hurled to earth a piece of turf that broke into pieces; the pieces became nations and the particles of dust their own minute, wandering tribe. Today only a few of the 55,000 remaining Bushmen still pursue their ancient way of life as nomadic hunters, tracking game across the Kalahari's parched...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!