TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

242 IMPROVEMENT OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL RANGELANDS
TABLE S-5 Harv.l Porlodo of Majar Dornallc: and Wild Gralna
W~ OOW D~
Juno July AUC Sopl Oc:l Nov Doc: Jan rob Mar Apr May
Ric:o (l&forat)
Millol (anoia)
Sorchum (abora)
IIhiban
Wajac
Muo
­e-----4
.....--of-I··_·-04
~--~I··--------~
~------~I---------~
1-1--------------
I
Acarof
Domestic grains (wet rice, millet, and occasionally sorghum)
that are grown by sedentary agriculturists along the Niger River
were traditionally supplied to the nomads as tribute, but now the
nomads purchase them when the wild grains are unavailable or for
special occasions. Domestic forms constitute roughly half of the
grain eaten by nobles, but only a quarter for the ikltln, although
this depends on the size of the harvests. During the months from
September to January, ishibtln and tDtljtlg are eaten by everyone, but
as the supplies diminish, the wealthy nomads and imtljtlren eat an
increasingly greater proportion of domesticated grains, whereas the
poorer people resort to the less common wild grains, for example,
Tribulu. terre.tris (tlgtlro/), as shown in table 3-6.
Both domestic and wild grains are pounded in a wooden mortar
to remove the brani it is then separated from the grain by shaking
from one flat basket to another, the process also used for removing
sand. No stone querns, pestles, or grinding stones were observed
among the Tamasheq in the Sahel, although Nicolaisen (1963) and
Gast (1968) note their use in the northern Sahara. The bran is
frequently given to slaves and is eaten either raw or cooked. The
cleaned grain is boiled in open metal pots, then eaten with butter,
pounded meat, or sour milk and salt.
Vegetables are consumed mainly when other foods are scarce, or
by children of lower status groups. This is largely due to prohibitions
against eating them (held by higher clUB Tamasheq, as well as. by