Awaken to Nature’s Sounds

“Joy of Nature”
How to Observe and Appreciate the Great Outdoors
by Reader’s Digest 1977

Awaken to Nature’s Sounds

About a century ago, a Stone Age man wandered down from the
mountains of northern California. His name was Ishi, and he was
said to be the last member of an Indian tribe who had hidden in the
mountains since he was a child. He had never used a metal tool or
anything else not made from stone or wood. His arrival caused a
sensation in scientific circle, but what is often overlooked is that Ishi
knew how to look at the nature. Within a few minutes after he went
into the woods, Ishi would know where the animals were, where he
could find fresh water and edible plants. His sense of sight, smell, and
hearing were probably nor more acute than yours, but he simply
knew how to use them.

Sigurd Olson (1899-1982), author of “The Singing Wilderness”, had
an Indian companion by the name Jack Linklater, who, with no
imagination, could hear certain “wilderness music”, which Olson was
not able to do. Olson knew from traveling with him that Jack actually
heard something, and he recognized the fact that those who have
lived close to the nature all of their lives are sensitive to many things
lost to those in the cities.

Expert outdoors men like Ishi or Jack learn through experience.
Although we do not have to know a lot about nature to be fully aware
of it, we simply have to give our senses a chance.

Yeh Tze