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.

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and hot water baths ; Kočche (mountain), as the third most recent island, has high mountains which are old volcanoes (no longer active) ; Teǧgotu (caldeira) had a volcano too, but it collapsed, forming a caldeira which a sacred area ; Koǰja (volcano) has an active volcano.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.

Are the borders secure? In what way?

The islands are surrounded by a strong water current. Tolosians can't fight against the tide so they can't go far away the islands (but since they don't see another emerged land, they think these islands are the only lands on the planet). People from everywhere else in the world can't fight against the tide either, and cannot discover the islands. The Tolosian geographical zone is known to be terribly dangerous for boats, so only a few people actually try to navigate there.

How many people live here?

The population vary between 300,000 and 400,000.

Where in this place to they congregate?

Cities can be found on every island, the bigger ones being Om on Teǧgolo (the oldest city) and Liea on Kočche (build on an ancient marsh). The population is essentially found on the major islands and on the northern coast of these.

What part of this place do they avoid? Why?

Takolo and the caldeira of Teǧgotu are sacred areas and therefore avoided by the population most of the time. Only priests and to a certain extent sick persons can penetrate into these areas.

What are the most common domesticated animals here? And what are they domesticated for?

Guanacos are domesticated to carry heavy loads, for their fur and for their meat. Sheep are domesticated for their meat and their wool, goats mostly for their milk. Birds of preys can be domesticated for hunting, crows for a religious purpose.

What are the most common wild animals?

Pumas, tuco-tucos and Falkland Islands wolves are common.

Which animals are likely to be pets? Which ones won't be?

Cats are the most common pets. Wolves are most used for hunting but can be pets as well.

Questions of Faith

What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural

events/beings do people fear?