"Pythor" <pythor@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:afc5a195-ec20-4dc9-a1fe-fb2fbcdddcc2@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mar 11, 10:25 am, "Joetheone" <joethe...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> Which goes back to "Why not domesticate the buffalo?"
> There's a roadside monument not far from me that commemorates "the only
> pack
> string that ever paid for itself."
> A string of 40 or so oxen that packed supplies into the mines, then got
> ate
> when they got there.
> I'd forgotten about the Mexican toys. Just adds to the puzzle.
I'll say it again, read "Guns, Germs, and Steel." From your postings,
I'd bet that you'll enjoy it. If you don't like to read (what are you
doing on usenet? ;) ), there's a video version, as well, but I haven't
seen it to judge the quality. I don't have the book in front of me,
and it was a couple years back when I read it, so I can't remember the
reasons that buffalo weren't domesticated. For llamas, it was a
combination of their poor attitude and limited range which made them
unsuitable.
If I get time tonight, I'll dig out the book and look into the buffalo
issue.
......................................................................................................................................................
Pretty sure I've read it. Yeah. I read a lot. Too much of it just goes
into
the background, where I can't pull up the details of who said what where,
but the information does go into forming my opinions.
I know the argumemts about the bufalo, I just don't buy them. I've worked
with animals all my life, so I have a different perspective than most
people
that write books. I think that, for some reason, they just didn't think of
it. The hands I'm typing with have scratched a buffalo's ears, and it
liked
it as much as any animal does. Don't tell me it can't be done. It has been
done.
Llama's were domesticated when the Spanish got here. They're popular now.
I
don't understand why. I've used them some, and would much rather have a
horse or mule. A llama can carry about as much as a reasonbly strong man.
And they spit. And look funny.
Everyplace else in the world had work animals, from cows to camels to
reindeer to elephants.
It's just hard for me to believe that, at some point, when all the buffalo
were run over the cliff, some shaky legged calf that couldn't keep up with
the stampede didn't get up and catch some little girl's eye, and she
didn't
squeal "OH! He's so cute! Don't kill him, Daddy!"
Then, a little while later it was "See? Buffy's carrying my tools!"
But, apparentley, it din't happen. I don't have to uderstand why, but I'd
like to.
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