本文聚焦於英國近代農業中之徒步趕集，採取多物種視角，考察趕集人與牛羊等動物在這農業移動環節中的角色與經驗。文章迴避傳統對於人獸間權力關係之預設，挪用「閾態」與「同伴物種」二概念，企圖捕捉動物在趕集中於時空及意義上之過渡性質，並貼近人獸於其中之主體經驗與彼此關係。文章首先說明理論框架與方法；次則鋪陳故事背景，建立牛羊與趕集人、牲畜貿易，以及英國農業間之結構性關聯；接著跟隨趕集人與牛羊腳步，依行前準備、趕集陣容、行進速率、路線決定、食宿照護、患難與共等各環節，逐一考察人獸於其間互動。本文指出，在趕集路途這閾態時空中，動物遠非不具主體性與能動性的受支配者，趕集人也非支配一切之君主。相對地，兩者於路途中堪稱互為「重大他者」，彼此密切交涉，並也相互與能。動物透過種種行為展現，實質影響了一路人獸共同經驗。趕集人透過對於動物特性、基本需求與身心狀態等之察照與回應，亦共同成就了這段路程。這今於英國已不復存之共行共居、相互化成之特殊人獸共處模式，當可做為反思今日物種關係之倫理遺產。

This article examines the long-distance droving experience in Britain since the eighteenth century. Taking a multi-species perspective, it explores the experience of both the drovers and the animals involved—mainly cattle and sheep. It employs the concepts of “liminality” and “companion species” to capture the ambiguous states that the animals were in during transit as well as the co-constituting relations between the “companion species” in question—the drovers, the cattle, and the sheep. After first locating the droving phase within the lives of the animals as well as the context of British livestock industry and agriculture, the article examines the factors that have impacted key aspects of the journey, such as its preparation, speed, routes taken, and hardships endured. It argues that, contrary to the power relations commonly assumed between humans and “economic animals” in the livestock industry, during this liminal stage of transit, the drovers and animals could be said to have co-constituted each other with the constant interactions and negotiations that took place between them. Through the exhibition of their instincts, needs, and preferences, as well as defiance, the cattle and sheep exerted considerable influence over each key aspect of the journey. The drovers, with their constant response to the species’ characteristics, basic needs, and physical and mental states of their companion species, equally rendered the trip possible. The droving journey thus reveals rather more of a story of “responding to” and “becoming with” each other than one of dominance and control. How to inherit this unique naturecultural legacy of cohabiting with our “significant others” is a task for the times of multi-species urgency in the Anthropocene.

閾態理論;同伴物種;趕集;人與動物關係;英國近代農業

theory of liminality; companion species; droving;humananimal relations; modern British agricultur