Coincidentally, I was just at the zoo today and happened to see the pair of Japanese serows that they have there. Their informative sign also uses the phrase "national treature", so it must be a common phrase.

Re: the Lepcha. Does anyone else find such breathless accounts of sexual liberation in primitive cultures a bit incredible? I always suspect a Margaret Mead moment.

Posted by JS Bangs at August 20, 2006 12:05 AM

The Lepcha page at the Peaceful Societies website links to a several other, reliable sources, as well as a series of recent news stories on the Lepcha. "Gender Relations" are summarized as follows:

The people are highly tolerant of one another's sexual activities, and they feel very little jealousy toward others. When disputes arise because of an extra-marital liaison to which one partner objects, the causes are blamed on the uncontrollable temperaments of individuals. However, when adultery occurs discretely, the aggrieved spouse will generally not pay attention; only if it is practiced openly and flagrantly will the other spouse appeal to the elected leader of the village.

But in general the Lepche appear to define happiness more in terms of a full belly than sexual satisfaction, so probably the outsider's focus on their love lives is a little misplaced.

Posted by Dave at August 20, 2006 07:33 AM

Whoever wrote that Wikipedia entry should join the new Dutch party called PNVD, unless they are already a member (not that it surprises me much, given the ties between Jimmy Wales and the πornogrαphy industry.

Posted by Jimmy Ho at August 20, 2006 07:45 AM

Does anyone else find such breathless accounts of sexual liberation in primitive cultures a bit incredible? I always suspect a Margaret Mead moment.

Yeah, me too (although from Jimmy Ho's quote, it seems there's something to it). I probably shouldn't have included it, but it tickled my funnybone at the time.

Posted by language hat at August 20, 2006 08:57 AM

Does anyone else find such breathless accounts of sexual liberation in primitive cultures a bit incredible? I always suspect a Margaret Mead moment.

Your Mead point is legit of course but my question is slightly different: In what human culture is the lifelong pursuit and practice of (and fixation upon) sex NOT the main recreation? I suppose the jarring part there was supposed to be the "beginning at age 10" part. Whatever.

Further, in what human culture is adultery not, to some degree expected?

Surely there is something more to these people that can describe them? OK, this goat post has gone astray. Sorry.

Posted by The County Clerk at August 20, 2006 11:39 PM

Oh, posts (like goats) always go astray around here. We expect and welcome it.

Posted by language hat at August 21, 2006 08:16 AM