Tolosian Ethnographic Questionnaire

Dr. Zahar’s Ethnographical Questionnaire was compiled by David Zahir to help in the description of concultures, and can be found in the files section of the Conculture group at Yahoo.

Questions of Place

Describe the geography of where your society calls home.

Detailed article : Geography of Tolos

Tolos is a group of islands situated in the Southern Hemisphere, North of the Falklands, in an alternative Earth. There are five major islands : Teǧgolo, Takolo, Kočche, Teǧgotu and Koǰja ; and five groups of minor islands : the Chotolos, the Zotolos, the Timi, Tolotes and Toloso.

The islands are named after their most important geographical feature : Teǧgolo (canyon) presents a canyon which divides the island in two parts, north and south ; Takolo (geyser) has a group of sacred geysers and hot water baths ; Kočche (mountain), as the third most recent island, has high mountains which are old volcanoes (no longer active) ; Teǧgotu (caldeira) had a volcano too, but it collapsed, forming a caldeira which a sacred area ; Koǰja (volcano) has an active volcano.

For the minor islands, Chotolos (three islands) is a group of three isles, Zotolos (eight islands) has eight little isles, Timi (cat’s pawn) is a group of six isles affecting the form of a cat’s pawn.

Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?

The climate is comparable to that of Ushuaïa on South, a little less cold on the North. Seasons are not really marked because of the oceanic influence. Snow is common most of the year, and there are eternal snow on the top of the mountains in Kočche.

What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?

Snowfall is as common for Tolosians as it is/was for Vikings or Inuits. Tsunamis are rare, but storms are not. The great volcano of Koǰja is active, but it is not really destructive as the geology of the island create a natural lava canal to the sea. No one can leave on the southern side of the island, but at least it doesn’t destroy the cities of the northern side.

What are the most commonly-grown foods?

The most commonly-grown foods are cereals (corn, wheat, spelt wheat, engrain ; less commonly barley, oats, rye, buckwheat, quinoa and wild rice), starches (peanuts, beans, broad beans, lupin, soy beans, potatoes, nasturtiums, Jerusalem artichokes) and vegetables (calabashes, physalis, marrows, courgettes, pumpkins, patty ban, capsicum, tomatoes and sweet pepper).

What are the most commonly-eaten meats?

The traditional meal is a cereal paste (a bread which is baked but not risen) with a piece of fish or more rarely meat. The meal is accompanied by a sauce of vegetables and starches.

What foods are considered exotic or expensive?

The most expensive foods are the one which needs the more heat, like tomatoes or capsicum. Meat is not as common as ifsh because the islands host a limited amount of game animals. Sheep are the only animals reared for meat.

What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?

The most common form of alcohol are pulque and mezcal, its distilled form. Wine is rarer.

Is there usually enough food and water for the population?

Yes. The population isn't growing much and the islands are rich. Food and water produced in excess in good years are stocked in the cities' granaries for the difficult years.

What is this place's most abundant resource?

Wood is probably the most common resource.

What is its most valuable resource?

Gemstones.

What resource is it most lacking?

Rocks other than volcanic ones are non-existent.

How do people travel from one place to another?

By foot for short distances, by boat for longer travels. Guanacos are used to carry heavy merchandises and sometimes chariots if the road allows it.

Questions of Faith

What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural

events/beings do people fear?