The Zulu and Andean Indians

            KwaZulu-Natal, where the Zulu people live, has a wide variety of climate and geography. It is bordered between a western mountain peak that's almost 11,424 feet high and beaches at the Indian ocean to the east. The overall climate is subtropical, with summers being hot and humid, and winters being cool. However, in winter months, the mountains can get cold with frequent snow storms, and rain is common in the east along the coastal areas. Throughout KwaZulu-Natal, the average summer temperature range is from 73 to 82 degrees, while the winter average temperature range is from 50 to 73 degrees. However, whether it be summer or winter, the Zulu people live in a nation where they have long hours of sunlight. And while the mean temperature during summers is 73-82 degrees, it's not uncommon for it to get quite hot, as well.

            To cope with the long hours of sunlight, the Zulu people have adapted physically in the texture and color of their hair as well as the color of their skin. Their hair protects their scalp from direct sunlight and allows for cooling of the head. Their skin has adaptively darkened to protect their skin from the damaging sun.

            The Zulu have also adapted to their environment culturally as well. Both men and women are taught that it is the woman's duty to cook, clean and brew the beer. The Zulu women are also responsible for obtaining the water to do their domestic chores. Zulu women often have to walk long miles just to get to the water. In an effort to conserve energy, they have learned to carry water containers on their heads, hands-free. This allows the Zulu women freedom to use their hands for something else if they needed to, such as to hold their child's hand or carry something else of importance.

            For the Zulu people, I would chose African or black as their race. I would choose either one of these words based on the Zulu's coloration; African and/or black are the two words that come to mind that seem to be a universally American thing to call someone of that color or race.

            In contrast, the Andean Indians also live in a varied climate, most of it at a higher altitude than what is accustomed to here in the U.S. The mountain ranges vary from over 6,000 feet to over 11,000 feet in height. Because some of the mountains are so high, there is a permanent line of snow, which include some large ice fields. The Andean climate also holds fertile valleys, forests, plains, volcanoes and deserts. Because of the variety of climates, temperature also varies quite a bit, most of it on the cooler end of the scale from the South African Zulu nation. In the Andes mountains, the habitable portions can drop down below freezing at night, while the days can be mildly warm. Additionally, microclimates can exist in the Andes due to factors such as wind, length of time there's sunlight (which is less than what the Zulu experience), and latitude.

            Because a good portion of the climate the Andean Indians live in is chilly, high altitude mountains, they seem to have adapted to it physically. They've adapted to the stress of elevation and cold by developing a basal metabolism that is higher than the basal metabolism of Americans. Andean Indians are also able to maintain a higher level of blood flow to their extremities, thus helping them maintain some warmth in a cold environment.

            Becuase they often live in cold environments, the Andean Indians have learned to weave square shawls called lliclla, which is a Quechua word. The lliclla helps to keep the Andeans warm, as it's made out of wool. Additionally, it can be used to carry children on the woman's back or cargo on the woman or man's back. Further, it is also used for some ceremonies, and is often worn in layers with other llicla during these ceremonies.

            For the Andeans, I would chose to describe their race as Indian. As with the Zulu people, I would chose Indian as it seems to be the word that most commonly brings someone of that type of appearance to mind in the U.S.

            Having looked at the Zulu and Andean Indians from different aspects, I know that looking at varying peoples from their physical and cultural adaptations is a more accurate way of describing groups of human beings. Describing people based on outward appearances doesn't necessarily cover everyone in that culture. For instance, calling the Zulu African doesn't necessarily cover anyone who's white who's also African (the U.S. mentality has a habit of associating the word African with the word Black). Anthropologists would find more use out of describing people by their physical and cultural adaptations to help the reader discover the people the anthropologist is describing without any, or with as few as is possible, preconceived notions popping into the readers head.