Mbuti net-hunters with captured ungulates, Epulu, Ituri Forest, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"The Mbuti maintain nomadic habits and renounce all material wealth. They are unique in that they hunt using round wooden bows and feathered arrows without metal tips, (they occasionaly obtain these from their neighbours). They alone use poison for their arrows. Both archers and net-hunters employ a very similar hunting strategy named 'mota,' where game are flushed and driven toward an awaiting arc of bowmen or nets (Harako 1976; Terashima 1983)." [Meurant G., Farris thompson R., 1995: Mbuti Design, Thames and Hudson Inc.]. During his trip to Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the Mbuti people at Epulu, South East Ituri Forest region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for National Geographic Film and traveled to Africa from January 19, 1972 to mid April 1972.