WEBVTT 1 00:00:27.420 --> 00:00:29.420 This is Somalia. 2 00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:42.220 The original land of frankincense and myrrh. Located on the northeast coast of Africa with an international airline to serve it, Somalia is now the world's newest and most exciting vacation land. 3 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:57.660 Mogadishu, the delightful capital, frequently referred to as the white pearl of the Indian Ocean, offers an intriguing combination of old and new, its colorful mosques contrasting eloquently with its ultra-modern hotels. 4 00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:12.180 Mogadishu's merchants are also colorful, its goldsmiths being renowned for their craftsmanship in working the precious metal. Here are samples of their exquisite wares, jewelry in the grand manner. 5 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:54.440 Nowhere are there beaches like the gold and white sands of Somalia. The Indian Ocean, always warm, at the same time provides cooling monsoon breezes. 6 00:01:54.980 --> 00:02:02.600 Each group of the fashionable international set, stemming from the various embassies, has its own beach club in this incomparable setting. 7 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:28.980 But swimming and sunbathing are not the only activities here. These beach lovers are searching for the exotic seashells of Somalia. 8 00:02:28.980 --> 00:02:44.140 Specimens found along this coast are exceptionally beautiful. These shells are kauris and have such names as the tiger kauri, the mole kauri, the humpback kauri, and the gorgeous golden kauri. 9 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:19.760 Another form of sea life provides a delicate tidbit of food. An Italian countess relishes fresh oysters seasoned with lemon juice. 10 00:03:23.440 --> 00:03:28.480 This crustacean, also a delicacy, understandably seems in a hurry to get away. 11 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:40.940 Somalia's prime export is its banana crop, a fruit that must be replanted every year with a replacement stock that was originally brought in from the Ivory Coast. 12 00:03:51.780 --> 00:04:01.400 Cut three days before the arrival of banana boats, the crop is harvested carefully, not only in the handling, but also with an eye to uniform size for the bunches. 13 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:09.680 Inside the packing plant, the fruit is washed and disinfected in special tanks. It is then waxed to prevent excessive drying out. 14 00:04:24.780 --> 00:04:33.720 Here, the fruit is loaded onto a barge for transfer to a vessel anchored offshore. The rate of production is more than 7,000 cartons a day. 15 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:51.500 A giant banana boat from Italy, which imports 60% of Somalia's crop, waits to take on its valuable cargo. 16 00:04:54.100 --> 00:05:03.700 The camel is a beast of great importance to much of Somalia's population. This animal, normally docile, provides food in the form of milk for a large group of animals. 17 00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:33.680 The goats are a source of food, a livelihood, and the local medicine. 18 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:42.920 The animals are a measure of wealth, all at the same time. Not so fortunate as the camel, they provide meat as well as milk. Camels are never slaughtered for meat. 19 00:05:54.700 --> 00:06:02.120 The branding of these animals is done painlessly, a harmless aniline dye being used to stamp identifying marks on their hides. 20 00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:15.360 Camels are also branded in the same humane manner. 21 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:26.400 The big beast doesn't always have it this good. In the dry seasons, he gets his food by grazing on sparse, arid ground. 22 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:42.400 The sale or exchange of such animals calls for sharp and wary dealing in the marketplace. 23 00:06:43.260 --> 00:06:48.360 Camels are especially valuable, being known as the gold standard in this part of Somalia. 24 00:06:51.380 --> 00:06:56.380 From scenes such as this came the term ships of the desert to describe the unique nature of the animals. 25 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:01.140 This one is carrying everything that his nomadic owner possesses. 26 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:05.240 The hemispheric pieces of wood are the forms for the nomads' tents. 27 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:11.060 The camels themselves must move from place to place for the sake of finding new grazing areas. 28 00:07:13.080 --> 00:07:16.540 The nomads carry only sticks as weapons or protection. 29 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:25.920 In a country of four and a half million people, there are more than 20 million camels, and herding them is an occupation that has come down through the ages. 30 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:42.800 These women, with infants on their backs, often walk more than 20 miles a day as they trudge along with the camels. 31 00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:57.000 Here we see the original mobile home. 32 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.640 These women, of the Hamite race, have long been renowned for their beauty. 33 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:05.840 Their garments allow the arm and shoulder to be free for carrying water. 34 00:08:06.760 --> 00:08:12.780 Different ways in which the garments are worn also show whether a woman is married, pregnant, or widowed. 35 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:31.600 This is a brush-crow, always erected at the end of the day around tents and animals as a protection against marauders. 36 00:08:36.280 --> 00:08:39.340 The milk of the camel is a precious commodity in Somalia. 37 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:45.580 It's used not only for drinking, but also as a staple ingredient in preparing other foods. 38 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:52.920 Before milk may be taken, a young camel must be allowed to feed in order to start the flow from the mother. 39 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:16.300 After the milking, the baby is allowed to finish its repast. 40 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:35.900 This is the basic reason for the nomadic life of camel herders. 41 00:09:35.900 --> 00:09:40.860 On the average, some of the nomads own between two and three hundred of the animals. 42 00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:45.280 To feed them, there must be a constant search for new feeding grounds. 43 00:09:56.300 --> 00:10:00.120 Here, camel's milk is brought in to be sold or traded at a market. 44 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:09.320 By this means of exchange, the nomad is able to obtain such foods as fruits and vegetables for a change of diet. 45 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:31.940 This is Talaie, once a fortress, now a mysterious brooding place, 46 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:37.600 where custodians chant melancholy ballads of the enormous deeds of its past. 47 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.300 The nomads are called the nomads. 48 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:39.300 49 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:00.420 These are incense trees. 50 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:05.960 To the ancient Egyptians, this valley was a paradise of perfumes and spices. 51 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:11.060 The pharaohs sent expeditions here to bring back its much coveted products. 52 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:18.700 Somalia is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest havens for wild birds. 53 00:11:19.280 --> 00:11:23.480 They exist here in countless numbers, in a fantastic list of species. 54 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:39.200 The pelican, renowned as the bird whose bill holds more than its bellicum, 55 00:11:39.540 --> 00:11:41.860 is said to go back more than 30 million years. 56 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:48.340 The sacred ibis, another ancient bird, was important in the religion of the early Egyptians. 57 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.460 The glossy ibis is a local resident that doesn't care much for travel. 58 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:53.460 59 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:56.380 Preferring to remain close to its home. 60 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:08.980 The spoonbill, while classified as a waiting bird, is noted for its ability to soar to great heights. 61 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:32.800 The crane, also of ancient lineage, is noted for its extravagant courtship dance. 62 00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:43.820 The stork is a bird of great size, some of the specimens reaching as much as five feet in stature. 63 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.620 This is the yellowbill variety. 64 00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:59.060 The openbill stork belies its open mouth by rarely uttering a sound, 65 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:03.200 its bill being a jar for the more important task of taking in food. 66 00:13:10.900 --> 00:13:15.740 This is the glossy starling, a bird with exceptionally glossy plumage 67 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:18.360 and great congeniality among its own kind. 68 00:13:28.280 --> 00:13:33.780 These unusual nests are the homes of weaver birds, another gregarious species, 69 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.900 said to have the best developed social sense in birddom. 70 00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:40.720 Named for the complex manner in which they construct their nests, 71 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:43.160 they tend to group into large communities. 72 00:14:04.380 --> 00:14:09.080 The reticulated giraffe, so named for the net-like appearance of its markings, 73 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:10.900 is the giant of the species. 74 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:14.440 A magnificent animal with a sinuous beauty of movement. 75 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:42.800 As with all animal life in this African nation, its elephant herds roam across plains 76 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:45.460 and through wooded areas in large numbers. 77 00:15:32.540 --> 00:15:37.460 Aggressive and savage, the water buffalo is reputed to be the most dangerous game 78 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.660 that a hunter may encounter. 79 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:04.380 A large form of the oryx is found in Somalia, 80 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:09.260 and nowhere else will you encounter the mile-long herds such as you see here. 81 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:37.200 To bag one of these alert animals requires great skill and patience. 82 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:41.400 A truly fine trophy is the reward for a successful kill. 83 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:46.700 A smaller type of antelope, known as Grants gazelle. 84 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:56.940 The secretary bird gets its name because its crest feathers 85 00:16:56.940 --> 00:17:01.540 are similar in appearance to the quill pens of old-time scribes or clerks. 86 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:06.340 This is a walking bird, being too lazy to fly, except on rare occasions. 87 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:09.940 The kori bustard is a bird with dual personality. 88 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:14.100 Very fearful at times, it runs away at any sign of trouble. 89 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:18.860 On other occasions, it shows not the slightest sign of anxiety for any reason. 90 00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:24.980 The vulturene guinea fowl moves in great flocks of up to several hundred birds. 91 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:28.000 The guinea fowl is the town crier of the wild, 92 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:31.820 setting up a frightful clamor at the remotest indication of danger 93 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:35.180 and indirectly warning other wildlife in the process. 94 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:38.180 Here is the largest of all birds. 95 00:17:38.820 --> 00:17:41.520 The ostrich reaches as much as eight feet in height 96 00:17:41.520 --> 00:17:43.740 and can weigh up to 300 pounds. 97 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:47.560 They associate with zebra and other grazing animals 98 00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:50.820 that flush out rodents and small reptiles for the big birds, 99 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:53.780 in return for which the ostrich, with its great height, 100 00:17:54.320 --> 00:17:55.540 spots approaching danger. 101 00:17:58.280 --> 00:18:02.380 These magnificent Somalia cattle, the imperial zebu strain, 102 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:06.160 were known to the ancient Egyptians as the oxen of the sun. 103 00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:10.060 With their downward arching horns and humped shoulders, 104 00:18:10.520 --> 00:18:15.940 they show the same line and silhouette as that on early Egyptian bas reliefs. 105 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:18.920 The waterholes of Somalia are vital to the existence 106 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.000 of its nomadic portion of the population. 107 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:25.100 Water from this well is being brought up from a depth of 50 meters, 108 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:29.260 roughly 150 feet, by men well skilled in the task. 109 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:35.300 As they bring up the water, the men chant an ancient song 110 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:38.120 dedicated to the thirsty cattle that will drink here. 111 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:42.640 For centuries, these tribesmen have been nurtured by the oxen of the sun, 112 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:45.980 and they hold the cattle in great veneration and affection. 113 00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:16.760 Despite their thirst, the cattle exhibit a regal composure 114 00:19:16.760 --> 00:19:18.800 as they approach the water. 115 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:41.500 Drinking the water or bathing in it, both are done together 116 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:44.000 as a matter of course by these hardy people. 117 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:02.460 Now that their thirst has been quenched, 118 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:06.360 the cattle show a measure of contentment equal to that of the splashing children. 119 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:11.240 Cattle are able to go only two days without some water at least. 120 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:14.760 Camels, on the other hand, can actually survive thirst 121 00:20:14.760 --> 00:20:16.560 for as long as a hundred days. 122 00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:44.720 The wooden bell worn by this animal identifies it as a lead camel. 123 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:48.480 The sound of the bell distinguishes this particular group 124 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.280 and is recognizable not only by the other camels in the group, 125 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.800 but by other camels and other nomads. 126 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:59.760 This one appears to be leaving well prepared for future privation, 127 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.240 but of course the water it carries is for the use of the herdsman. 128 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:21.360 These islands lie from two to four kilometers off the coast of Somalia. 129 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:25.960 Shaped much like sponges, they're composed largely of coral rock. 130 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.440 There is very little water on the islands, 131 00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:31.420 yet they have long been the homelands of the Bagini, 132 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:33.220 a race of people numbering in the Bagini. 133 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.220 134 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.220 135 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.220 136 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.360 The Bagini is a group of people who have been touring about 2000 137 00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:36.120 with an unknown origin. 138 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:54.360 This Bagini is a famous fisherman in these parts. 139 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:59.000 These water people have their own unique way of taking food from the sea. 140 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:02.760 They exploit an unusual type of fish, the remora. 141 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:05.000 One of the world's outstanding parasites, 142 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:08.820 the remora has a powerful sucker as part of its head, 143 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:13.980 and with this it likes to attach itself to predatory larger fish or turtles 144 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:17.020 and thus get free rides and free food. 145 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:21.880 This remora has been conditioned by feeding to prefer turtles. 146 00:22:22.520 --> 00:22:24.740 Treating it as they are doing here may seem harsh, 147 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.560 but no harm comes to the fish. 148 00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:31.160 Actually, the Baginis treat remoras tenderly and are so fond of them 149 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.500 that they sing a song of thanks to the sucker fish 150 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:36.280 that is part of a centuries-old mystique. 151 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.980 Keeping the fish wet is essential to its welfare, 152 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:42.400 as drying out would cause its death. 153 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:48.620 The remora is handled with almost loving care as the line is tied securely. 154 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:15.520 The fishes again dip in the water, 155 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:19.100 and then the line to which it was attached is taken from its mouth. 156 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:32.640 The remora is now ready to undertake the task for which the Baginis have trained it. 157 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:36.080 Out it goes, taking the line with it, 158 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:40.400 and a second fish, trained the same way, is sent out to help. 159 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:45.240 The search for a turtle now begins below the surface, 160 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.200 and this will take time. 161 00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:49.080 The Bagini fisherman, who has been trained to be a fish for a long time, 162 00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:53.300 settle themselves to wait patiently, sometimes for hours. 163 00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:05.320 But now they have something more than just the remora at the other end of the line, 164 00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:09.500 and it's a fine catch, a massive Indian Ocean turtle. 165 00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:25.260 Now a rope is tied to the catch. 166 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:31.220 Another man jumps in to help. 167 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:34.620 The seven-pound remora has done its work well. 168 00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:44.360 The second remora also carried out its assignment. 169 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:05.700 This fellow will weigh as much as 300 pounds, 170 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:08.480 and the meat of the turtle is a great delicacy. 171 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:12.400 So here we are, hundreds of pounds of exotic cuisine, 172 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:16.580 complements of the Indian Ocean, and two seven-pound super fish, 173 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:19.060 trained to the needs of these Bagini fishermen. 174 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.060 175 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.060 176 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:24.800 A carefully handled remora can catch up to 40 of these giant turtles 177 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:26.820 before it tires of being exploited. 178 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:31.580 So it's no wonder these Bagini fishermen venerate this small fish 179 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:35.220 that is so necessary to their way of life.