Things Get Better
- 13 Dec 07, 03:09 PM
Posted from: Wjint
We are making progress. Bruce is living in a house, not with Saris, but with an inscrutable hunter called Mantu and his family, Saris (Silas Marner) had second thoughts after his daughters told him they were scared of Bruce and didn't want him there. Poor guy, he looked dreadfully embarrassed.
Mantu, who is Jorje's brother-in-law, came to the rescue with an offer for Bruce to stay and has been helpful but also entirely indifferent to our presence.
The first night we met him, he had just returned from a day's hunting laden down with jungle birds and a big spider monkey. He's an amazing looking guy, a bit like Val Kilmer, with long black hair and a severe face.
They immediately put the spider monkey onto the fire, whole, to singe the fur off before butchering it. It looked terrible and I wonder whether we can use the scene without outraging Middle England. Images of hunting are pretty much the only things we get complaints about - it seems the British viewing public can tolerate any number of children with malnutrition, but if you dare to kill a sweet little monkey then outrage will be heaped upon you.
Steve with one of the Achuar children
Mantu looks like a skilled hunter and fisherman, so we hope he will be able to show Bruce how the Achuar live off their forest.
Bruce also took Wayus with Mantu and his family today. It's a herb infusion that they take each morning to purge their system. They start at three in the morning and drink litres of the stuff while discussing the business of the day. It's quiet and intimate family time and a foundation stone of Achuar life.
Then, when everyone is full, they all go outside and vomit it all back up again. Bruce entered into it with gusto and Mantu was very impressed with Bruce's vomiting ability.
Steve with some of the younger members of the Achuar tribe
So, we've made some friends and are beginning to shoot some nice stuff at last. It's pretty hard work though and it doesn't feel as if the Achuar have embraced us. They tolerate us at best, even though we are providing them with a great source of entertainment.
We are all staying in a vast open-sided longhouse with a raised floor in the centre of the village. It's a beautiful structure but entirely open to the world. In the evening, the entire village assembles en masse to watch us eat and drink whisky. I guess it's only fair. After all, that's what we are doing to them.
Achuar homes
Find out more about the Achuar
Comments
thanks for the photos, they give a good picture to your adventures!!