Topical. There was a man named Dersu Uzala, a hunter described by the writer Vladimir Arsenyev in his books about journeys through Manchuria. There are several film adaptations of the work; I would highlight Akira Kurosawa’s 1975 film above all, though for that reason you will not seek it out or watch it anyway, which I sincerely regret.

So, Dersu Uzala was, for self-evident reasons, an organic observer and expert on natural processes; he recognised animal tracks and, unlike modern meteorologists, accurately predicted the weather, while treating it all with distinct reverence.

He referred to the wind, sun and water, and almost anything else, as people, including mice and birds. Once, Dersu set fire to a wasps' nest, to the astonishment of those present, who surely spent the first few kilometres running from the enraged insects and nearly poking their eyes out on branches.

When asked about the motives for his actions, the hunter explained: “They are bad people, they bite for no reason.”

Author: Rvīns Varde