The Mocha people (PM *a-šiwa "the people") are an early bronze age culture in southern Zephyria, and the speakers of Proto-Mocha. They live along the Aksora river and the surrounding arreas around 3500 BEA.
Environment[]
The approximate area of Mocha settlements, and early migrations
Most Mocha settlements are located on well chosen terrain along rivers or small streams. Vast patches of pampa-like savannah stretches between the settlements, further south thick rainforest can be found. The climate is very hot during most of the year, which can be divided in a dry season and a rainy season. During the latter, great parts of the territory are flooded.
History[]
The origins of the Mochans are not known. There are tool fragments and potsherds from around 5000 BEA that most likely belong to early Proto-Mochan people, but the beginning of their culture is set within 4000-3500 BEA, when primitive agriculture began to spread in the area.
The main area of Mochan culture is set at the junction of the Red and Black Aksora, but not later than 2000 BEA, the southern rainforest, the coast and the steppe beyond the Ethereal Mountains was settled by descendants of the Mocha.
Traditionally, the descendant cultures around 2000 BEA are divided into Core Mocha along the Aksora river, Coast Mocha at the southern coast and the rainforest, Mountain Mocha in the <BigSouthernMountains> and Steppe Mocha between the two rivers north of the Ethereal Mountains.
The various tribes formed a loose empire or a confederation of several little empires.
Life[]
The Mocha's main activities are fishing, hunting, gathering, cattle breeding and slash-and-burn agriculture. They are also gifted potterers, as can be seen from the great amount of pottery found throughout the whole area.
The main plants cultivated by the Mocha are different kinds of beans, nuts, bananas, corn, melons, gourds and other fruits. Non edible plants, like tobacco, are cultivated aswell.
Social organisation[]
Traditionally, the Mocha are divided into clans (PM *zine). The head of such a clan is always the eldest women of the family, the *ḳʷa-čiča. The term *čiča also refers to the maternal grandmother, a hint to the mainly matrilinear nature of the traditional Mocha society.
The basic social unit is the extended family, all living in the same house. Men move to the house of their wife's family, their children are considered to be part both of their parent's (maternal) clan. Neither marriage nor partnership is allowed between two people sharign the same clan.
Religion and belief[]
The religion of the Mocha is a kind of shamanism. Different kinds of shamans are distinguished. Instead of gods, the Mocha religion is based on the belief of an animated nature, with spirits being worshipped.