山地ポコットの生態人類学的研究

抄録

The Pokot of western Kenya is a tribe of the Kalenjin group belonging to Southern Para-Nilotes, whose territory, lying across the Great Rift Valley, shows wide varieties of natural environment. The author mainly investigated Upland Pokot who inhabit the altitudinal zone of approximately 2000-2500m in the eastern slope of Cherangani Hills (3500m at the highest), from the viewpoint of ecological anthropology for five months in 1978. Lower zone of the slope (ca. 2000-1000m at altitude) constitutes the northern end of Elgeyo Escarpment, eastward of which expands into the plain of dry bush where Pastoral Pokot inhabit. Hill-side Pokot occupy the foot fringe of the escarpment, where they carry on irrigation forming.
The habitat of Upland Pokot above the escarpment can be included in the montane forest zone in original flora. Homesteads of families and their fields lie scattered on the slope, and they subsist mainly on agricultural products, however, they also herd livestock on a small scale in their habitat zone except fenced fields. At each small village alongside the road running at the foot of the escarpment, market is held once or twice a week, where the dwellers of Upland, Hill-side and Plain gather with their products, barter them each other, and trade with merchants and wageworkers coming from outside.
In this paper, the author describes and analizes the natural environment of Upland Pokot, their ways and means of subsistence, some aspects of social life reflected on the manner of naming and community organization, and mutral relations among them. Further, their relationship will Hill-side and Plain Pokot is analized through the situation of intermarriage and market exchange. Then, it is discussed how the subsistence style of each habitat group is regulated by and adapted to the natural environment, and how social and economic factors, on the other hand, have been related to the divergence of subsistence styles among the Pokot.