Desert People

Desert People, written by David Meisner.

《沙漠居民》，大卫·迈斯纳 著

What is a desert? Would you know a desert if you saw one? Would it have camels or rattlesnakes? Would it have sand or rocks? Earth has many different kinds of deserts, but all deserts are dry. They usually get less than 25 .4 centimeters, 10 inches of rain a year. Some deserts are very cold, but most are sunny and hot.

什么是沙漠呀？ 如果你看到沙漠，能认出来吗？ 沙漠里会有骆驼还是响尾蛇呀？ 是布满沙子还是岩石呢？ 地球上有各种各样的沙漠，但所有沙漠都很干旱。 沙漠的年降雨量通常不到25.4厘米，也就是10英寸。 有些沙漠非常寒冷，但大多数沙漠都晴朗炎热。

Desert living. How do people stay alive in such hot, dry places? Where do they find food and water? How do they build their homes? For thousands of years, desert people have used what they found in their local areas to get food, water, and shelter. Each desert is different, and each desert has its own solutions. In this book, you will learn about two desert peoples, the Tohono O 'odham and the Bedouin. Both of these groups have found ways to adapt and live successfully in their desert homelands.

沙漠里的生活 人们怎么在这么炎热干旱的地方活下去呢？ 他们去哪里找食物和水呀？ 他们怎么搭建自己的家呢？ 几千年来，沙漠居民会利用当地找到的一切获取食物、水和住所。 每个沙漠都不一样，居民们也有各自不同的生存办法。 在这本书里，我们会认识两个沙漠族群：托赫诺奥哈姆族和贝都因人。 这两个族群都找到了适应沙漠的办法，在沙漠家园顺利繁衍生息。

The Tohono O 'odham. Tohono O 'odham means desert people. The Tohono O 'odham are Native Americans who still live in the Sonoran Desert. Long ago, the O 'odham slept in round homes made of dried mud, branches, and grass. There was one main room with a fire pit. Families slept on grass mats. Fires gave them light and heat during cold winter nights.

托赫诺奥哈姆族 托赫诺奥哈姆的意思就是“沙漠居民”。 托赫诺奥哈姆族是美洲原住民，至今仍生活在索诺兰沙漠里。 很久以前，奥哈姆人住在干泥、树枝和茅草搭成的圆形屋子里。 屋子里只有一个主房间，还有一个火坑。 一家人都睡在草垫子上。 寒冷的冬夜里，火为他们带来光亮和温暖。

The Sonoran market. The Sonoran desert can be a difficult place to live. Months may pass without rain. Summer days can reach 49 degrees Celsius, 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter nights can be freezing cold. But for a desert, the Sonoran is full of life. Historically, the Tohono O 'odham lived where 30 .5 centimeters, 12 inches of rain fell each year. The rainfall supported many plants and animals. Shady trees, cacti, and flowers all grew there. Many insects, birds, rabbits, and other animals lived there, too.

索诺兰的天然集市 索诺兰沙漠其实很难生存。 这里可能连着好几个月都不下雨。 夏天的气温能达到49摄氏度，也就是120华氏度。 冬天的夜晚会冻得刺骨。 不过和其他沙漠比，索诺兰沙漠已经充满了生机。 历来托赫诺奥哈姆人居住的地区，年降雨量有30.5厘米，也就是12英寸。 这些降雨能滋养很多动植物。 遮阴的大树、仙人掌还有鲜花都能在这里生长。 许多昆虫、鸟类、兔子和其他动物也生活在这里。

A different kind of shopping. The desert was the Tohono O 'odham market. When they needed vegetables, they planted seeds. When they needed water, they went to a spring. When they needed meat, they hunted. Fruits and vegetables. In the early summer, O 'odham people planted seeds. In the late summer, the rains flooded the fields. The O 'odham grew corn, beans, and other vegetables. In the winter, they grew wheat, peas, and fruits.

不一样的“采买” 沙漠就是托赫诺奥哈姆人的天然集市。 需要蔬菜的时候，他们就种下种子。 需要水的时候，他们就去泉水边取。 需要肉的时候，他们就去打猎。 瓜果和蔬菜 初夏的时候，奥哈姆人会播种。 夏末的时候，雨水会漫过农田。 奥哈姆人会种植玉米、豆子和其他蔬菜。 冬天他们会种植小麦、豌豆和瓜果。