Page 74 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 7 4

The hunting scenes of the ancient Egyptians do not only show the hunt as it may have
actually taken place at that time. They are also a symbol of the rulers or the high
dignitaries fighting chaos - the desert and the wild animals in it - and thus creating a

world order. These hunting scenes are not coincidentally also reminiscent of scenes like
the war depictions.

We also see this parallel concept of hunting and war in other cultures, such as the Greeks
or the Vikings. Great warriors were buried there in the far North with weapons of war
and with hunting equipment! [52]. Or as Xenophon describes it, hunting is a preparation
for war and an education of young men in the skills needed for war.

The helpers in establishing this order in Ancient Egypt are the fast hounds. This shows a
closeness and trust in this valuable helper of man, which is fulfilled solely by the dog.

“Bobbi's hunting party” Excerpt from the April/May/June 1987 Official Bulletin of the Basenji Club of
America, Inc. © Mike Work and John Curby from their expedition to Zaire in February 1987

- Hunting with nets among pygmies with the Basenji type.

As we see here, “Bobbi's hunting party” includes a Basenji type dog for hunting in the

forest, but also includes nets set up in the undergrowth in large numbers. The dog and
the hunters make noise, track the game and drive it into the nets set up. Here again we
see the long-established tradition of hunting with nets and dogs.