ABSTRACT
In about 1905 a European ethnologist studying among the Bushoong in Africa was challenged to trace some figures in the sand, with the specification that each line be traced once and only once without lifting his finger from the ground. Graph theory, described geometrically, is concerned with arrays of points interconnected by lines. This field has been growing in importance in culture because it provides new approaches, stimulates new concepts, and has many applications. The drawing of continuous figures is tightly enmeshed in the Malekulan ethos. Many of the figures are named for local flora and fauna but several are related to important myths and rituals. In addition to illustrating myths, there are even myths in which the drawing concept plays a significant role. For the Tshokwe, the drawing of continuous figures in the sand is part of a widespread storytelling tradition.
