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- [Narrator] People who have wandered

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Central Africa for centuries.

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Today they live in the humid rainforest

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of southeastern Cameroon.

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This ancient place is
immensely rich in wildlife.

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But for all its biological riches,

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it is a difficult
environment in which to live.

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(speaking foreign language)

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Few people have the knowledge

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and ingenuity to survive here.

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Only the Baka have developed the skills

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to exploit its wealth.

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A wealth that yields
medicines from leaves.

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- [Narrator] And compounds
from bark and seeds

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to make poisons for arrows.

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- [Narrator] The Baka
have this extraordinary

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knowledge of the forest,
but it's their personality

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enriched by the forest itself

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that makes the Baka even more remarkable.

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(gentle music)

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- [Narrator] These are the Baka,

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The people of the forest.

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This is their story.

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(dramatic music)

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- [Announcer] To better
understand our world.

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Ourselves.

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And our future, this
program was made possible

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by the people of Chevron.

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Chevron, giving thought to television.

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- [Announcer] Additional funding provided

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by the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting.

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(singing in foreign language)
(gentle music)

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- [Narrator] The heart of Africa.

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Below the clouds lie the
rainforests of southeast Cameroon.

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This is the home of the Baka.

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The Baka left camp this morning.

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For the last three months they have been

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on a journey through the
forest hunting and gathering.

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Traveling with the group
is Laykano and his family.

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(speaking foreign language)

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His son Yaya is eight years old.

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- [Narrator] Ali is four.

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At 40, Kaykano is the second
oldest of all the men.

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- [Narrator] His wife
Deni is in her early 20s,

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and she's expecting their next child.

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- [Narrator] Their three month journey

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through the forest has been tiring.

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Today's camp will be the last
before the Baka reach home.

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(gentle music)

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Within an hour or so the
frameworks are ready for roofing.

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- [Narrator] The shelters will only

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be used for a night or two,

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but they're strong enough to
keep out the heaviest storm.

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It's always like this.

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The women establish camp
after a few hour's walk,

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while the men look for food.

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Close by, Laykano and the other men

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are breaking open a termite mound.

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They're after winged termites

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that have gathered in
the top of the mound.

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(speaking foreign language)

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The smoke stops the termites
from retreating underground.

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(speaking foreign language)

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They're not all edible.

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The bites of the defending
termites are painful.

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Thing winged termites are plump
and full of fat and protein.

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They taste like raw egg.

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(speaking foreign language)

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These temporary camps
are always established

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within easy reach of rivers.

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(speaking foreign language)

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Many of the trees and vines
of the forest contain poisons.

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The Baka have an intimate knowledge

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of these plants and how to use them.

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(speaking foreign language)

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The chemicals in these
vines are called rotenones.

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To release them the creepers
have to be beaten into a pulp.

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(speaking foreign language)

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By rinsing the pulp in
the fast-flowing water,

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the chemicals are
dispersed into the river.

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The river flows into a
small patch of savanna.

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It's too wet for rainforest to grow here,

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so these open areas
are dominated by palms.

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The chemicals that have dissolved

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in the river are not poisonous.

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Instead they deprive the fish of oxygen.

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Unable to breathe, they
float to the surface.

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- [Narrator] At the camp the women

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are setting off to gather fruits.

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Only during the rainy season do the Baka

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travel this far into the forest.

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They have come in search
of the feki fruit.

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The seeds are rich in oil.

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Every rainy season for hundreds of years

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the Baka have come to collect
the fruit in this way.

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(speaking foreign language)

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It's almost the end of the rainy season

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and much of the feki fruit
has already been gathered.

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Those fruit still left on the trees

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are a rich source of food for gorillas.

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To get at them, they will climb

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100 feet or more into the canopy.

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Adults like these may weigh 400 pounds,

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and these are the animals the
Baka fear most in the forest.

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Elephants also roam the forest here.

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Many fruits like feki must
through an elephant's stomach

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to have a better chance of germinating.

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Large mammals and large birds
like these giant horn bills

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give the rainforest here
its special character.

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They too are essential.

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Dispersing the seeds that will become

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the next generation of the forest.

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In the camp, the women are already

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preparing the feki fruits.

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(speaking foreign language)

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- [Narrator] The seeds are crushed

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to provide a precious oily paste.

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This will be used for cooking
in the months to come.

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(speaking foreign language)

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For centuries the Baka have been

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called pygmies by the outside world.

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It's a name they dislike
and feel is derogatory.

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Most of the people here
are under five feet tall,

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but in the forest, and to the Baka,

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their size is irrelevant.

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(gentle music)

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(singing in foreign language)

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- [Narrator] Such tales
told only deep in the forest

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are important for the
children's education.

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(speaking foreign language)

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(thunder crashing)

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(speaking foreign language)

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- [Narrator] The dry season in beginning.

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Ahead like 10 hours of hard
walking before reaching home.

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(gentle music)

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- [Narrator] Laykano was
told this by his father.

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All stories are handed down in this way.

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- [Narrator] Home is a permanent village.

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Still deep in the forest and 10 miles

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from the nearest dirt road.

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Deni and Laykano spend
most of the year here,

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and share this village
with 20 or so members

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of their extended family.

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Local villages of the Konabembe tribe

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bring metal goods and clothes
from the outside world.

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These are traded with the
Baka for meat from the forest,

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and for occasional work they do

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on the nearby Konabembe plantations.

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Although they speak different languages,

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they can easily understand each other.

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(speaking foreign language)

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The Baka have never been truly isolated,

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and have always relied
on these local villagers

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for material goods.

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The Konabembe also come
to the Baka for medicines.

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Usa is well known for
her cure for infertility.

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This Konabembe woman has
been unable to conceive

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and has come for treatment.

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- [Narrator] Usa has
successfully treated friends

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of this woman in the past.

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(speaking foreign language)

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The medicine is from a
small plant called njaya.

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Elsewhere in Africa it is
used to treat gonorrhea.

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(speaking foreign language)

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- [Narrator] Deni is preparing medicine

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from the heartwood of the ingeli tree.

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It's to make Ali grow up big and strong.

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Sand is used as an abrasive
to create a red paste.

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- [Narrator] Soap comes
naturally from certain leaves.

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- [Narrator] Washing is important

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before applying the medicine.

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- [Narrator] It's important to look after

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children in the forest.

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Illness and death can strike suddenly.

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Many a child is lost in infancy.

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(speaking foreign language)

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Occasionally the Baka will
go into the forest at night.

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This is often the best
time to look for honey.

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Honeybees are active at
the nest well before dawn.

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The earliest foragers lead
by the light of the full moon

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in search of flowers high in the canopy.

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The first bee has arrived.

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Below, Laykano and Babu have been

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waiting for the flowers to talk.

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A tree talking is a
tree humming with bees.

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By listening to the sound
of the returning bees,

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they can discover the
direction of the nest.

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- [Narrator] The light of dawn

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reveals the site of the
nest, high in the canopy.

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Two more men arrive from the village.

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Mewunga is Lakano's
brother-in-law and he is to climb.

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The nest is 140 feet
above the forest floor.

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Very few Baka would
attempt a climb like this.

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- [Narrator] Mewunga is using a strong

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pliable vine to help him climb.

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By cutting tiny foot holes he will

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slowly inch his way up the tree.

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The climb will take several hours.

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Not far from the village,

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a golden cat has killed an antelope.

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The cat is elusive and
seldom seen by the Baka.

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(speaking foreign language)

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- [Narrator] The women left the village

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at dawn to come dam fishing.

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It's only the women who fish in this way.

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(speaking foreign language)

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Below the damn, the remaining water

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is scooped further downstream.

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Dams must be constantly reinforced.

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Deni is nine months pregnant,

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but that doesn't stop her from working

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as hard as the other women.

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As the water recedes, the
fish retreat under rocks.

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- [Narrator] During the dry season

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other fish lie dormant deep in the mud

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below the banks of the river
and have to be dug out.

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- [Narrator] The cat poses
no real danger to the women,

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but it's a relief when it's gone.

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- [Narrator] They're off to
find out how the climb is going.

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- [Narrator] Mewunga is already

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some 70 feet above the forest floor.

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(gentle music)

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(speaking foreign language)

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In the nest, tens of
thousands of stinging bees

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pose a serious threat to Mewunga's life.

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Before he climbs any higher,

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he must have the protection
of a bundle of smoking leaves.

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- [Narrator] At this height
a single slip means death.

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Two men were killed last year
climbing trees for honey.

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(gentle music)

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(speaking foreign language)

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(bees buzzing)

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Mewunga stuffs bark scrapings containing

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00:41:50,106 --> 00:41:52,689
cyanide compound into the nest.

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Followed by smoking leaves.

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00:42:09,308 --> 00:42:11,895
This stuns the bees, which in their panic,

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gorge themselves on honey
and become lethargic.

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Mewunga is not stung once.

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- [Narrator] The nest
has to be hacked open

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to get at the comb inside.

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- [Narrator] Mewunga
is completely confident

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working at this height.

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The honey basket has to be
hauled up 140 feet to his perch.

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- [Narrator] 30 pounds of honey

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are lowered to the crowd below.

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(speaking foreign language)

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Honeyguides feed on beeswax,

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and are never far away
when there's honey around.

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- [Narrator] Honey is the
ultimate gift of the forest,

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and very little of it will
return to the village.

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(speaking foreign language)

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00:46:07,292 --> 00:46:11,459
(gentle music)
(singing in foreign language)

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The bees descend immediately to the

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scattered combs tossed aside by the Baka.

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All available honey is taken back

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00:46:52,689 --> 00:46:55,856
to the shattered remnants of the nest.

257
00:46:57,197 --> 00:47:00,375
Forest bees are often reluctant
to desert a raided nest.

258
00:47:00,375 --> 00:47:03,508
In time, this one will
be completely rebuilt.

259
00:47:03,508 --> 00:47:06,091
(gentle music)

260
00:47:19,892 --> 00:47:21,324
Other animals also take advantage

261
00:47:21,324 --> 00:47:24,074
of the spoils of the honey climb.

262
00:47:40,049 --> 00:47:43,736
A honey badger is quick to
seize such an opportunity.

263
00:47:43,736 --> 00:47:45,221
Although it's quite capable of tackling

264
00:47:45,221 --> 00:47:47,734
a bee's nest with his massive claws,

265
00:47:47,734 --> 00:47:51,901
it readily scavenges on
these combs left by the Baka.

266
00:48:07,877 --> 00:48:11,854
(speaking foreign language)

267
00:48:11,854 --> 00:48:16,021
Unexpectedly Deni has felt
her baby change position.

268
00:48:33,691 --> 00:48:34,666
- [Narrator] This medicine,

269
00:48:34,666 --> 00:48:38,833
which contains plant estrogens,
is always used during labor.

270
00:48:57,335 --> 00:49:00,502
- [Narrator] Ali blesses the medicine.

271
00:50:27,799 --> 00:50:31,466
(speaking foreign language)

272
00:50:35,896 --> 00:50:39,313
Her hands are no larger than a thumbnail.

273
00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:44,250
Her shoulders from tip to tip,
the size of a little finger.

274
00:50:44,250 --> 00:50:47,917
(speaking foreign language)

275
00:50:50,794 --> 00:50:52,731
Ali is distraught.

276
00:50:52,731 --> 00:50:56,148
The baby has taken his place beside Deni.

277
00:52:37,602 --> 00:52:41,769
- [Narrator] Ali's sister, born
into the world of the Baka.

278
00:52:43,983 --> 00:52:47,589
The first sounds she hears
are those of her people.

279
00:52:47,589 --> 00:52:48,589
Her village.

280
00:52:50,849 --> 00:52:51,766
Her forest.

281
00:52:55,002 --> 00:52:58,208
Her people are the
people of the rainforest.

282
00:52:58,208 --> 00:53:00,791
(gentle music)

283
00:53:38,556 --> 00:53:42,389
(singing in foreign language)

284
00:53:48,703 --> 00:53:51,323
Several weeks later and Ali is adjusting

285
00:53:51,323 --> 00:53:53,741
to his new place in the family.

286
00:53:53,741 --> 00:53:57,574
(singing in foreign language)

287
00:54:25,594 --> 00:54:28,177
(both humming)

288
00:54:47,419 --> 00:54:51,086
(speaking foreign language)

289
00:54:54,542 --> 00:54:58,709
(singing in foreign language)
(gentle music)

290
00:56:03,711 --> 00:56:04,758
- [Announcer] WonderWorks presents

291
00:56:04,758 --> 00:56:08,035
CS Lewis's magical story
about four children

292
00:56:08,035 --> 00:56:12,803
who discover a fantasy kingdom
while exploring a wardrobe.

293
00:56:12,803 --> 00:56:14,094
You whole family will enjoy

294
00:56:14,094 --> 00:56:17,032
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

295
00:56:17,032 --> 00:56:20,032
Friday night at 8:00 on WonderWorks.

296
00:56:20,935 --> 00:56:23,132
Next the season open of Frontline

297
00:56:23,132 --> 00:56:25,171
looks at the career of President Reagan

298
00:56:25,171 --> 00:56:28,785
and assesses the legacy
of his administration.

299
00:56:28,785 --> 00:56:32,535
Frontline is next on
KCPT, public television.

300
00:56:33,889 --> 00:56:36,472
(gentle music)

301
00:57:16,183 --> 00:57:17,374
- [Narrator] 18 months have now passed

302
00:57:17,374 --> 00:57:19,207
since Kamila was born.

303
00:57:28,182 --> 00:57:29,770
- [Narrator] During this
time Laykano and Deni

304
00:57:29,770 --> 00:57:33,103
have been teaching her about the forest.

305
00:58:37,762 --> 00:58:40,345
(gentle music)

306
00:59:01,615 --> 00:59:04,298
- [Narrator] For all
children growing up here,

307
00:59:04,298 --> 00:59:05,951
the last 18 months have been a mixture

308
00:59:05,951 --> 00:59:07,762
of fun and gradual adjustment

309
00:59:07,762 --> 00:59:10,573
to the responsibilities of Baka life.

310
00:59:10,573 --> 00:59:13,573
(children babbling)

311
01:00:11,753 --> 01:00:14,691
- [Narrator] Takala has asked
to have his teeth sharpened.

312
01:00:14,691 --> 01:00:17,114
Not everyone has it
done, for those that do,

313
01:00:17,114 --> 01:00:20,531
it reinforces their sense of being Baka.

314
01:00:45,746 --> 01:00:47,011
- [Narrator] For some
boys life after today

315
01:00:47,011 --> 01:00:49,993
will never be quite the same.

316
01:00:49,993 --> 01:00:51,870
Six boys have been confined to this hut

317
01:00:51,870 --> 01:00:54,270
for the last few days.

318
01:00:54,270 --> 01:00:55,808
They are approaching puberty,

319
01:00:55,808 --> 01:00:58,271
and are preparing to
be initiated by Jengi,

320
01:00:58,271 --> 01:00:59,771
the forest spirit.

321
01:01:01,588 --> 01:01:04,102
Jengi was summoned to
the village by Ikundum.

322
01:01:04,102 --> 01:01:07,787
As the oldest man, he alone has the power.

323
01:01:07,787 --> 01:01:11,954
Jengi is constantly guarded in
his lair beyond the village.

324
01:01:17,240 --> 01:01:19,336
- [Narrator] Torches for
Jengi's nightly dances

325
01:01:19,336 --> 01:01:21,753
are prepared from tree resin.

326
01:02:01,327 --> 01:02:02,160
- [Narrator] The tooth sharpening

327
01:02:02,160 --> 01:02:04,726
has proved to much for Takala.

328
01:02:04,726 --> 01:02:07,726
(children laughing)

329
01:02:33,441 --> 01:02:35,791
- [Narrator] The ripe banana
skin warmed by the fire

330
01:02:35,791 --> 01:02:37,374
acts as a poultice.

331
01:02:43,328 --> 01:02:45,412
- [Announcer] We will
return to Baka Growing Up

332
01:02:45,412 --> 01:02:47,495
on the Discovery Channel.

333
01:02:55,940 --> 01:02:57,768
- [Narrator] Children
learn from the earliest age

334
01:02:57,768 --> 01:03:01,935
how to find and prepare
medicines from the forest.

335
01:03:06,266 --> 01:03:09,933
(speaking foreign language)

336
01:03:40,404 --> 01:03:42,170
The bark of the mayimba tree is used

337
01:03:42,170 --> 01:03:44,337
to treat coughs and colds.

338
01:03:58,905 --> 01:04:00,407
This medicinal knowledge is easily

339
01:04:00,407 --> 01:04:03,573
acquired through shared experience.

340
01:04:03,573 --> 01:04:07,240
(speaking foreign language)

341
01:04:23,069 --> 01:04:24,134
- [Narrator] The children have been

342
01:04:24,134 --> 01:04:26,053
left to their own devices while Deni

343
01:04:26,053 --> 01:04:29,720
and the other mothers
have gone dam fishing.

344
01:05:22,586 --> 01:05:26,253
(speaking foreign language)

345
01:06:36,484 --> 01:06:38,773
- [Narrator] Jengi, the most
important forest spirit,

346
01:06:38,773 --> 01:06:41,940
arrived at the village some weeks ago.

347
01:06:44,381 --> 01:06:46,538
His presence is called
upon every few years

348
01:06:46,538 --> 01:06:50,705
when enough boys are ready
for initiation into manhood.

349
01:06:53,052 --> 01:06:56,186
He has decided to initiate
the boys this afternoon.

350
01:06:56,186 --> 01:06:59,853
(speaking foreign language)

351
01:08:25,546 --> 01:08:26,419
- [Narrator] The news is relayed

352
01:08:26,419 --> 01:08:29,325
to the initiates waiting in the hut.

353
01:08:29,325 --> 01:08:31,825
Jengi will be coming for them.

354
01:08:59,635 --> 01:09:00,511
- [Narrator] Ali and his friends

355
01:09:00,511 --> 01:09:01,872
are too young to be initiated

356
01:09:01,872 --> 01:09:04,376
and have little interest in Jengi.

357
01:09:04,376 --> 01:09:08,042
(speaking foreign language)

358
01:09:59,278 --> 01:10:01,121
- [Announcer] We will
return to Baka Growing Up.

359
01:10:01,121 --> 01:10:05,288
(rhythmic music)
(singing in foreign language)

360
01:10:34,387 --> 01:10:37,220
- [Narrator] The boys are nervous.

361
01:10:38,809 --> 01:10:40,489
As they're led across the courtyard,

362
01:10:40,489 --> 01:10:42,134
they must run the gauntlet of Jengi

363
01:10:42,134 --> 01:10:44,883
who is threatening to kill them.

364
01:10:44,883 --> 01:10:48,550
(speaking foreign language)

365
01:11:02,825 --> 01:11:05,667
The boys are taken towards Jengi's lair

366
01:11:05,667 --> 01:11:08,250
where they are to be initiated.

367
01:11:14,668 --> 01:11:16,078
They have no idea what lies in store

368
01:11:16,078 --> 01:11:17,942
for them beyond the gate.

369
01:11:17,942 --> 01:11:22,109
(rhythmic music)
(villagers cheering)

370
01:11:39,059 --> 01:11:42,892
(singing in foreign language)

371
01:12:11,658 --> 01:12:12,996
The initiates are finally carried

372
01:12:12,996 --> 01:12:15,913
through the gate into Jengi's lair.

373
01:12:18,553 --> 01:12:21,470
Jengi is now at his most dangerous.

374
01:12:23,059 --> 01:12:27,571
He storms after them, slashing
the gate to the ground.

375
01:12:27,571 --> 01:12:31,238
(speaking foreign language)

376
01:13:53,168 --> 01:13:54,729
- [Narrator] No flies
must land on the blood

377
01:13:54,729 --> 01:13:56,774
before Jengi's found and persuaded

378
01:13:56,774 --> 01:13:59,441
to bring the boys back to life.

379
01:14:11,738 --> 01:14:15,405
(speaking foreign language)

380
01:14:53,564 --> 01:14:54,552
- [Narrator] Now the initiates

381
01:14:54,552 --> 01:14:56,939
take their place in the barrier of men.

382
01:14:56,939 --> 01:15:00,608
Playing their new role in
protecting the women from Jengi.

383
01:15:00,608 --> 01:15:04,775
(singing in foreign language)
(rhythmic music)

384
01:16:14,355 --> 01:16:17,783
Jengi leaves the village
for the last time.

385
01:16:17,783 --> 01:16:19,718
His presence has again reinforced

386
01:16:19,718 --> 01:16:22,801
their spiritual link with the forest.

387
01:16:43,540 --> 01:16:47,207
(speaking foreign language)

388
01:18:18,116 --> 01:18:21,949
(singing in foreign language)

389
01:18:36,369 --> 01:18:38,399
- [Narrator] In a few
years Jengi will return

390
01:18:38,399 --> 01:18:40,524
to initiate Ali into manhood.

391
01:18:40,524 --> 01:18:44,691
(gentle music)
(singing in foreign language)

392
01:18:49,897 --> 01:18:52,430
- [Announcer] Life in the
rainforest is difficult,

393
01:18:52,430 --> 01:18:55,603
but growing up in many African
cities isn't much easier.

394
01:18:55,603 --> 01:18:59,754
Children there must also
struggle for food and a home.

395
01:18:59,754 --> 01:19:02,616
That's true of the
members of Bernard's gang.

396
01:19:02,616 --> 01:19:04,283
Their story is next.

397
01:19:19,452 --> 01:19:21,062
- [Announcer] The Falklands
War, The Untold Story--