We will miss you when you are gone.

January 28, 2010 6:18 AM

The world is closing in on the Moken way of life. Sights and Sounds by the late Nicolas Reynard.
The Kabang serves both as home and transport. Here's how they are built.
The Moken have enhanced underwater eyesight.
However with probably fewer than 1000 people still pursuing the traditional lifesyle; It's sadly time to say goodbye.
( Further reading. Previously / related 1; 2; 3 )
posted by adamvasco (10 comments total)

These guys sound awesome. And the enhanced eyesight is very interesting.

They harvest the sea's bounty by traditional methods. Without masks or scuba gear, they are able to gather tiny shellfish and other food on the ocean floor at depths as low as 75 feet (23 meters).

Diving 23 meters to gather "tiny shellfish" doesn't sound like the usual tradition of a sea-fed people. Why not nets or poles? Oh, I guess they do that too.
posted by DU at 6:26 AM on January 28, 2010

Awesome post about a people I knew nothing about.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:44 AM on January 28, 2010

Huh. If these folks can hang on until the glaciers melt, they may have a chance at world domination.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:44 AM on January 28, 2010

Huh. If these folks can hang on until the glaciers melt, they may have a chance at world domination.

Hmmm. 1000 Moken, 6 000 000 000 non-Moken. It would take one hell of an evolutionary advantage to beat those odds under any circumstances.
posted by three blind mice at 7:00 AM on January 28, 2010

It would take one hell of an evolutionary advantage to beat those odds under any circumstances.

THAT'S NOT HOW WINDMILLSEVOLUTION WORKS
posted by DU at 7:04 AM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Well, this probably isn't an evolutionary advantage we're talking about anyway. The article on enhanced vision makes it seem pretty likely that focusing well underwater is a skill that develops with practice — and that the Moken practice it a whole fuck-ton.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:25 AM on January 28, 2010

The photographs of building the dugout boat are amazing. That is some seriously skilled work.
posted by Forktine at 7:47 AM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

It was the Law of the Sea, they said. Civilization ends at the waterline.
- Hunter S. Thompson
posted by empty vessel at 7:49 AM on January 28, 2010

i really hope these guys don't go away. i heard of them from the report on 60 minutes back when the tsunami hit. it's always made me feel a little better knowing somewhere there are a people that have been getting along for the last 4000 years without having to worry about time and deadlines, successfully living off the sea.
posted by fuzzypantalones at 11:44 AM on January 28, 2010

Thank you for this.
posted by fourcheesemac at 2:28 PM on January 28, 2010