Cattle raiding

Last updated
A cattle raid during the Swabian War, 1499 Schwabischer Bund Luzerner Schilling.jpg
A cattle raid during the Swabian War, 1499

Cattle raiding is the act of stealing live cattle, often several or many at once. In Australia, such stealing is often referred to as duffing, and the perpetrator as a duffer. [1] [2] In other areas, especially in Queensland, the practice is known as poddy-dodging with the perpetrator known as a poddy-dodger. [3] In North America, especially in the Wild West cowboy culture, cattle theft is dubbed rustling, while an individual who engages in it is a rustler. [4]

Contents

Historical cattle raiding

The act of cattle-raiding is quite ancient, first attested over seven thousand years ago, [5] and is one of the oldest-known aspects of Proto-Indo-European culture, being seen in inscriptions on artifacts such as the Norse Golden Horns of Gallehus [6] and in works such as the Old Irish Táin Bó Cúailnge ("Cattle Raid of Cooley"), the paṇis of the Rigveda, the Mahabharata cattle raids and cattle rescues; [7] and the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, who steals the cattle of Apollo.

Central Asia

In his childhood, the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur and a small band of followers raided travelers for goods, especially animals such as sheep, horses, and cattle. Around 1363, it is believed that Timur tried to steal a sheep from a shepherd but was shot by two arrows, one in his right leg and another in his right hand, where he lost two fingers. Both injuries disabled him for life. Timur's injuries have given him the names of Timur the Lame and Tamerlane by Europeans. [8]

Ireland & Britain

Depiction of cattle raid in Ireland c. 1580 in The Image of Irelande by John Derricke. The Image of Irelande - plate02.jpg
Depiction of cattle raid in Ireland c. 1580 in The Image of Irelande by John Derricke.

In Gaelic Ireland, cattle raiding, whether in retaliation for an insult under the code of conduct or to keep the whole clan fed during a difficult winter, was a common part of warfare between Irish clans, as is often depicted in stories from Irish mythology, such as the Táin Bó Cúailnge and the Táin Bó Flidhais . Cattle raiding and selling protection against theft continued by Irish clan chiefs and rapparees, particularly against the estates of Anglo-Irish landlords, well into the 18th century in Ireland. [9] [10]

Warfare between Scottish clans was often for very similar reasons and, during the 17th and 18th centuries, many Scottish clan chiefs would similarly operate an extralegal Watch over the cattle herds of the Lowland gentry in return for protection money, which Highland Chiefs similarly used to feed their tenants and clansmen. Any cattle that were stolen from herds under the Chiefs' Watch were either retrieved, or he paid for them in full. [11]

Cattle-raiding by the Border reivers was a serious problem for many centuries on both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border.

American Old West

The Beefsteak Raid (1864) during the American Civil War. The Great Cattle Raid at Harrison's Landing.jpg
The Beefsteak Raid (1864) during the American Civil War.

In the American frontier, rustling was considered a serious offense and in some cases resulted in vigilantes hanging or shooting the thieves. [12]

One cause of tensions between Mexico and the United States in the years leading up to the Mexican–American War (of 1846–1848) was the frequent raiding of cattle by Native Americans from north of the border. Mexico's military and diplomatic capabilities had declined after it attained independence which left the northern half of the country vulnerable to the Apache, Comanche, and Navajo. These tribes, especially the Comanche, took advantage of Mexico's weakness by undertaking large-scale raids hundreds of miles deep into the country to steal livestock for their own use and to supply an expanding market in Texas and the United States. These raids left thousands of people dead and devastated northern Mexico. When American troops entered northern Mexico in 1846 they found a demoralized people and little resistance from the civilian population.[ citation needed ]

Mexican rustlers were a major issue during the American Civil War (1861–1865); the Mexican government was accused of supporting the habit. American rustlers also stole Mexican cattle from across the border. Failure to brand new calves facilitated theft.[ citation needed ]

Conflict over alleged rustling was a major issue in the Johnson County War of 1892 in Wyoming.[ citation needed ]

The transition from open range to fenced grazing gradually reduced the practice of rustling in North America. In the 20th century, so called "suburban rustling" became more common, with rustlers anesthetizing cattle and taking them directly to auction. This often takes place at night, posing problems for law enforcement, because on very large ranches it can take several days for the loss of cattle to be noticed and reported. Convictions are rare to nonexistent.[ citation needed ]

Chile and Argentina

El Malon, Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802-1858) Johann Moritz Rugendas-el rapto.jpg
El Malón, Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802–1858)
La vuelta del malon (The Return of the Raiders) by Angel Della Valle (1892). Angel DELLA Valle - La vuelta del malon - Google Art Project (cropped).jpg
La vuelta del malón (The Return of the Raiders) by Ángel Della Valle (1892).

Cattle raiding became a major issue at the end of the 19th century in Argentina, where cattle stolen during malones were taken through Camino de los chilenos across the Andes to Chile, where they were exchanged for alcoholic beverages and firearms. Several indigenous groups and outlaws, such as the Boroano and Ranquel peoples, and the Pincheira brothers, ravaged the southern frontier of Argentina in search of cattle. To prevent the cattle raiding, the Argentine government built a system of trenches called Zanja de Alsina in the 1870s. Most cattle raids ended after the military campaigns of the Conquest of the Desert in the 1870s, and the following partition of Patagonia established by the Boundary Treaty of 1881 between Chile and Argentina.[ citation needed ]

In a letter to Chilean President Manuel Montt Mapuche chief Mañil denounced the plunder of graves in search of Mapuche silver, arson of Mapuche houses and other abuses against Mapuches that were happening in the newly created province. Mañil further accused intendant Villalón con Salbo of becoming rich by cattle theft. [13]

The return of Chilean veterans from the War of the Pacific coincided with the Chilean Army's crushing of Mapuche resistance in the Occupation of Araucanía (1861–1883). This led to opportunities for bandits and veterans-turned-bandits to immigrate to the newly opened Araucanía territory, [14] [15] leading to sudden rise in violence and in a region that was recovering from Chilean-Mapuche warfare. [16] Bandits that immigrated to Araucanía allied with displaced Mapuche and made cattle theft their chief business. [14] Stolen cattle was sold in marketplaces through the region. [14]

Contemporary cattle raiding (1990–present)

East Africa

The Pokot and Samburu Nilotic populations in northwestern Kenya often raid each other for cattle. [17] Violent cattle rustling has caused massive loss of lives such as the Monday 12 March 2001 raid among the Marakwet in Murkutwo Location, Elgeyo Marakwet County, suspected to have been caused by the Pokot. [18]

Sudan

Conflict over pastures and cattle raids has been happening between Dinka and Nuer as they battle for grazing their animals. [19] [20]

Cattle rustling is a major problem in rural areas of South Sudan. In the state of Jonglei, cattle raids in August 2011 left around 600 people dead. Once again in January 2012, ethnic clashes related to cattle theft killed between 2,000 and 3,000 people and displaced as many as 34,500 in the area around Pibor. [21]

West Africa

Cattle rustling is common in Nigeria. [22] [23] [24]

Israel

The theft of sheep, goats and cows along with tractors and irrigation equipment, is one of the most difficult problems confronted by farmers in Israel. About 400 cases are reported annually in the north of the country, and in the south, farmers compare the situation to the Wild West. They suffer millions of shekels in annual losses. [25] Most of the stolen livestock is taken to the West Bank, quickly slaughtered and then smuggled back into Israel, where it is sold by butchers to unsuspecting customers. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkana people</span> Ethnic group of Eastern Africa

The Turkana are a Nilotic people native to the Turkana County in northwest Kenya, a semi-arid climate region bordering Lake Turkana in the east, Pokot, Rendille and Samburu people to the south, Uganda to the west, to the South Sudan and Ethiopia to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conquest of the Desert</span> 1870s–1884 Argentine campaign in Patagonia

The Conquest of the Desert was an Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca during the 1870s and 1880s with the intention of establishing dominance over Patagonia, inhabited primarily by indigenous peoples. The Conquest of the Desert extended Argentine territories into Patagonia and ended Chilean expansion in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leander H. McNelly</span> Confederate States Army officer

Leander Harvey McNelly was a Confederate officer and Texas Ranger captain. McNelly is best remembered for leading the "Special Force", a quasi-military branch of the Texas Rangers that operated in south Texas in 1875–76.

The Kenya-Turbi City massacre was the killing of fifty-six people by feuding clans in the remote Marsabit District of Northern Kenya on the early morning of 12 July 2005. Hundreds of armed raiders of the Borana tribe attacked the Gabra people living in the Turbi area northwest of Marsabit. Twenty-two of the sixty confirmed dead were children, and over six thousand people fled their homes, most fleeing to Marsabit town. The massacre's aftermath sparked several violent inter-clan conflicts, raising the death toll to ninety-five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suguta Valley</span>

The Suguta Valley, also known as the Suguta Mud Flats, is an arid part of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya (Africa), directly south of Lake Turkana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murle people</span> Ethnic group

The Murle are a Surmic ethnic group inhabiting the Pibor County and Boma area in Greater Pibor Administrative area, South Sudan, as well as parts of southwestern Ethiopia. They have also been referred as Beir by the Dinka and as Jebe by the Luo and Nuer, among others. The Murle speak the Murle language, which is part of the Surmic language family. The language cluster includes some adjoining groups in Sudan, as well as some non-contiguous Surmic populations in southwestern Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newman Haynes Clanton</span> American outlaw (c. 1816–1881)

Newman Haynes Clanton, also known as "Old Man" Clanton, was a cattle rancher and father of four sons, one of whom was killed during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Two of his sons were involved in multiple conflicts in Cochise County, Arizona Territory including stagecoach robbery and cattle rustling. His son, Ike Clanton, was identified by one witness as a participant in the murder of Morgan Earp. Billy Clanton and Ike were both present at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in which Billy was killed. "Old Man" Clanton was reportedly involved with stealing cattle from Mexican ranchers and re-selling them in the United States. Records indicate he participated in the Skeleton Canyon Massacre of Mexican smugglers. In retaliation, Mexican Rurales are reported to have ambushed and killed him and a crew of Cowboys in the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Fisher</span> American gunslinger

John King Fisher was a gunslinger from the U.S. state of Texas during the heyday of the American Old West.

The Araucanization of Patagonia was the process of the expansion of Mapuche culture, influence, and its Mapudungun language from Araucanía across the Andes into the plains of Patagonia. Historians disagree over the time period during which the expansion took place, but estimate it occurred roughly between 1550 and 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupation of Araucanía</span> Incorporation of Araucanía into Chile

The Occupation of Araucanía or Pacification of Araucanía (1861–1883) was a series of military campaigns, agreements and penetrations by the Chilean army and settlers into Mapuche territory which led to the incorporation of Araucanía into Chilean national territory. Pacification of Araucanía was the expression used by the Chilean authorities for this process. The conflict was concurrent with Argentine campaigns against the Mapuche (1878–1885) and Chile's wars with Spain (1865–1866) and with Peru and Bolivia (1879–1883).

The Mason County War, sometimes called the Hoodoo War in reference to masked members of a vigilance committee, was a period of lawlessness ignited by a "tidal wave of rustling" in Mason County, Texas in 1875 and 1876. The violence entailed a series of mob lynchings and retaliatory murders involving multiple posses and law enforcement factions, including the Texas Rangers. The conflict took the lives of at least 12 men and resulted in a climate of bitter "national prejudice" against local German-American residents in the following years.

The Tegla Loroupe Peace Race is an annual 10-kilometre road running event which takes place in November in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, Kenya. First held in 2003, the race was created by Kenyan runner Tegla Loroupe to bring together warriors of rival tribes to reduce conflict in the region. The event features separate 10K races for elite long-distance runners and local warriors. There is also a race for children and a VIP race for politicians and dignitaries. The race raises funds for the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, a charitable body focused education, sports and medical issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cochise County Cowboys</span> Informal confederation of rustlers and robbers in Old West Arizona

The Cochise County Cowboys is the modern name for a loosely associated group of outlaws living in Pima and Cochise County, Arizona in the late 19th century. The term "cowboy", as opposed to "cowhand," had only begun to come into wider usage during the 1870s. In that place and time, "cowboy" was synonymous with "cattle rustler". Such thieves frequently rode across the border into Mexico and stole cattle from Mexican ranches that they then drove back across the border to sell in the United States. Some modern writers consider them to be an early form of organized crime in America.

As an archaeological culture, the Mapuche people of southern Chile and Argentina have a long history which dates back to 600–500 BC. The Mapuche society underwent great transformations after Spanish contact in the mid–16th century. These changes included the adoption of Old World crops and animals and the onset of a rich Spanish–Mapuche trade in La Frontera and Valdivia. Despite these contacts Mapuche were never completely subjugated by the Spanish Empire. Between the 18th and 19th century Mapuche culture and people spread eastwards into the Pampas and the Patagonian plains. This vast new territory allowed Mapuche groups to control a substantial part of the salt and cattle trade in the Southern Cone.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is a non-profit membership organization that works on behalf of Montana cattle ranchers.

Cattle theft, more commonly cattle raiding or cattle lifting, is a property crime in India. In the ancient and medieval era India texts, stealing cattle is described as a crime and sin, a motif that appears in Hindu mythologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sengwer people</span>

The Sengwer people are an indigenous community who primarily live in the Embobut forest in the western highlands of Kenya and in scattered pockets across Trans Nzoia, West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties. The Sengwer are sometimes portrayed as a component of the Marakwet people but are a distinct ethnic grouping.

The 17 Brigade is a military formation of the Nigerian Army, which was established on 20 February 2018 for internal security duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banditry in Chile</span>

Banditry was a considerable phenomenon in 19th century and early 20th century Central Chile and Araucanía. Many bandits achieved legendary status for their brutality and others for being regarded folk heroes. The bandits usually preyed on haciendas and their inquilinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pecos War</span> 1876-1877 range war in Pecos River, New Mexico

The Pecos War, also known as the War of the Pecos and the Chisum War, was a range war fought by cattle baron John Chisum against neighboring small ranchers, farmers, and Native Americans from 1876-1877 along the Pecos River in New Mexico. The conflict was caused primarily by competition: Chisum believed that his livestock and other resources were being depleted upon by people he alleged to be rustlers. At the same time, Chisum was also fighting Mescalero Apaches from the nearby reservations who were said to prey on his herds.

References

  1. Baker, Sidney John (1945) The Australian language : an examination of the English language and English speech as used in Australia Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydney, p. 32, OCLC   186257552
  2. Derricourt, William (1899) Old Convict Days (2nd ed.) T.F. Unwin, London, p. 103 OCLC   5990998
  3. Anderson, John (19 June 2018). "Poddy-Dodger Festival celebrates Croydon's cattle-stealing fame". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. "rustler". Wiktionary, The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  5. "The Perfect Gift: Prehistoric Massacres". Perfect Irish Gifts (The twin vices of women and cattle in prehistoric Europe). Archived from the original on 2008-06-11.
  6. Bruce Lincoln, The Indo-European Cattle-Raiding Myth, History of Religions (1976), p. 58.
  7. "Episode 46 – The Cattle Raid : Lawrence Manzo : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". 2001-03-10. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  8. Marozzi, Justin (2004). Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, conqueror of the world. HarperCollins.
  9. Edwards, Ruth Dudley; Hourican, Bridget (2005). An Atlas of Irish History. Psychology Press. ISBN   9780415278591.
  10. Murray, James (2011). Enforcing the English Reformation in Ireland: Clerical Resistance and Political Conflict in the Diocese of Dublin, 1534–1590. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780521369947.
  11. W. H. Murray (1982), Rob Roy MacGregor: His Life and Times, Barnes & Noble Books. pp. 59–64.
  12. "Cattle Rustling". Old Meade County. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  13. Nahuelpán Moreno, Héctor Javier; Antimil Caniupán, Jaime Anedo (2019). "Colonialismo republicano, violencia y subordinación racial mapuche en Chile durante el siglo XX" [Republican Colonialism, Violence and Mapuche Racial Subordination in Chile during the Twentieth Century]. Revista de historia regional y local (in Spanish). 11 (21): 211–248. doi: 10.15446/historelo.v11n21.71500 . S2CID   150099942 via Dialnet.
  14. 1 2 3 Salinas, Maximiliano A. (1986). "El bandolero chileno del siglo XIX: Su imagen en la sabiduría popular". Araucaria de Chile (in Spanish): 57–75. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  15. "Bandidaje rural en Chile central (1820–1920): Cronología". Memoria Chilena (in Spanish). Biblioteca Nacional de Chile . Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  16. Cádiz Villarroel, Francisco Felipe (2013). "Chilenización institucional y progreso en Villarrica, Chile, 1900–1920" (PDF). Procesos Históricos (in Spanish). XII (23): 58–73. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  17. "31 killed in Laikipia cattle raid". Daily Nation. September 15, 2009.
  18. Kenya Human Rights Commission, Raiding Democracy: The Slaughter of the Marakwet in Kerio Valley, Nairobi: Kenya Human Rights Commission.
  19. Diamond, Jared (2012). The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?. Penguin. ISBN   978-1101606001.
  20. "Conflict between Dinka and Nuer in South Sudan | Climate-Diplomacy". climate-diplomacy.org. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  21. "South Sudan horror at deadly cattle vendetta". BBC News.
  22. Olaniyan, Azeez; Yahaya, Aliyu (14 December 2016). "Cows, Bandits, and Violent Conflicts: Understanding Cattle Rustling in Northern Nigeria | Olaniyan | Africa Spectrum". Africa Spectrum. 51 (3): 93–105. doi: 10.1177/000203971605100305 . S2CID   149806324.
  23. "Cattle rustlers kill 23 people in northern Nigeria | World news | The Guardian". TheGuardian.com . Agence France-Presse. 3 June 2018.
  24. "Between Manslaugtering and cattle rustling: The tales of Fulani herdsmen and rural banditry in Nigeria | Calabar Reporters". Archived from the original on 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
  25. Israeli farmers face off against master goat thieves
  26. Taking livestock: NIS 5m in beasts rustled last year

Further reading