①There are two groups of people who live in the rain forests of Africa-Bantu villagers and Pygmy hunters. The two groups have very different ways of life. But they have learned to survive in the rain forest by depending on each other.
②The Pygmies live as hunters in the rain forest. They live in large groups of families and hunt with nets. The men go to an area where they know there are animals. They hold up nets and the women and children spread out and drive the animals into the nets.
③Hunting is a full-time job for the Pygmies, so they cannot always stay in villages. But over the years, the Pygmies have learned to enjoy some of the luxuries(奢侈品)of village life. Their forest foods of meat, fruit, and nuts are enough for them. But they also enjoy some village foods-like rice, beans, peanuts and vegetables. They also need some metal tools that are made by the villagers.
④The villagers are Bantus. They stay in the clearings(空地)in the rainforests. The Bantus cannot keep cattle in the rain forest. There is not enough room for the cattle to feed. So the Bantus are given meat by the Pygmies. Tothe Bantus the rain forest is a erous place. But to the Pygmies it is familiar. So the Pygmies fetch firewood and guard the village fields from wild animals.
⑤The Bantus must work very hard to clear their fields. Once they are cleared, the villagers must fight continually to keep the rain forest from taking over again. The soil of the rain forest is so poor that the farm crops soon wear it out. Then the villagers must give the land back to the forest after a few years' farming and clear more.