Driven out of Siberia by a population explosion, the Cloud People have been forced to keep moving as the occupants of good hunting grounds have prevented them from settling. Now, by contrast, they are in a land whose occupants not only cannot resist but can be exploited. Corwin, the expert, had not expected this second development. The Tulat live by the coast and do not hunt big game so there should have been no occasion for competition or conflict between the two groups.
Instead:
"Some genius among [the invaders] had made an invention - taxation - that immediately benefited those folk to whom he owed his loyalty. It would be made again and again in the millennia ahead, around the world, usually with less justification." (p. 198)
So it seems that Red Fox is the world's first tax collector.
Does this mean that the Cloud People will settle in the land of the Tulat? They think so:
"'...they fully expect to stay, they believe they've reached their Promised Land.'" (p. 197)
("Promised Land" is yet another Biblical reference.)
However, by checking uptime, Corwin discovers that they will move on the following spring. He does not yet know why. Thus, when Wanda causes them to move on, she does not change events but causes them...
Sun Hair has promised Red Wolf "'A new world.'" (13,210 B. C., p. 250). He does not understand but he believes.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Of COURSE Poul Anderson knowingly used "promised land" and "a new world" because he knew historically aware readers would immediately recognize how those phrases RESONATED in history!
Ad astra! Sean
It's unlikely that tribute was invented that late.
Human beings have always exchanged things -- there are clear indications of long-distance trade many tens of thousands of years ago.
Gifts, trade and extortion are entries on a sliding scale.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Evidence of trade many TENS of thousands of years ago? And if people were that sophisticated so long ago, then it's easy to believe a powerful tribe could have conquered neighboring clans and demanded tribute from them. Meaning Red Fox was not likely to have invented the exacting of tribute.
Ad astra! Sean
Kale, Sean!
When tools made from particular kinds of stone are found a long distance from the source of the stone, that’s evidence of trade. Similarly with seashells, I would think.
Best Regards,
NichoLs
Kaor, Nicholas!
I agree. It makes sense to thin that even in Old Stone Age times there were professionals who specialized in making stone tools in return for desired foods and goods. I have a recollection of reading somewhere that some Stone Age sites were used for mass production of stone tools and weapons.
Regards! Sean
Post a Comment