From Hunting to Agriculture

Dagdain is driving his newly- bought truck loaded with cargo through the dense forests, but he can not help searching for signs of animals with his eagle-like eyes as he did in the past.

The 63-year-old driver was recognized as one of the most experienced hunters of the Lhoba ethnic group living mainly in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Lhoba ethnic group, which has its own spoken language but no written form, has some 2,700 members and is one of China's smallest ethnic minority groups.

For generations, the Lhoba led a tribal life in the virgin forests of Tibet, mostly hunting. They usually got together to share what they got from the hunt. But very often there was little left for them because they were forced to turn over the fur, bear gallbladders, musk, and other parts of the animal to the local government.

The Lhoba respected brave hunters and boys traditionally started practicing shooting with their parents at the age of seven or eight. The men were all good hunters and the best was usually known among villagers. The Lhoba used these primitive production methods until not long ago.

In 1959, the year Tibet began its democratic reforms, the Lhoba had a chance to change their lives. With the help of the central government, they gradually stopped hunting and moved out of their thatched-roof cottages and caves and down to valley areas, where a road was built and power stations set up.

Dagdain, like others in the ethnic group, hung up his gun and bow and arrow, and took to farming.

It was not smooth sailing for the hunters to change to a more settled life as farmers at the beginning. Their per-hectare yield of grain was less than 750 kg, because of their lack of knowledge and experience. Some of them had to turn to hunting to support their families.

With the increased use of improved seeds, fine fertilizer and technology, the ethnic group got better returns from agriculture. The 11 people in Dagdain's family have 1.1 hectares of farmland and harvest nearly 5,000 kg of grain a year. They also have more than 40 oxen and cows, providing more than 300 kg of butter a year.

To make life better, the family bought two trucks and a bulldozer to diversify their business. Two of Dagdain's sons are working in forestry and on civil engineering projects elsewhere in the region. The family's income reached 50,000 yuan in 1998, making them one of the richest families around.

But, even though, Dagdain is hard-nosed about giving up hunting and not using his bow and arrows, not to mention the rifles that brought him money and honor in the past. And he gets wistful when he sees these items hanging on the wall as decorations.

Dagdain is regarded as the last hunter of the ethnic group, but his life is happy and confident as he now enjoys the modern conveniences like his new color TV, VCD, and the music.