Wild tribes of the Amazon. Modern life of the Amazon tribes

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

In the age of asph alt, concrete and computer technology, we hardly think about the fact that there are entire civilizations that develop parallel to ours. They have no idea about such phenomena as the economic crisis, but they are familiar with the consequences of floods or droughts. They do not know how to use calendars, but at the same time they know about the stars and the phases of the moon.

The wild tribes of the Amazon, namely, they are in question, are gradually disappearing under the pressure of civilization, but by some miracle they managed to preserve their original culture. And the most amazing thing is that many small Indian groups have absolutely unique traditions, unlike those of their immediate neighbors.

Tribes of the Amazon: small nations with a rich past

Today, the presence of several dozen small wild tribes that live in isolation from each other in the most remote corners of the jungle is officially registered in the Amazon Delta.

Scientists began to study the life of the Amazon tribes not so long ago, but it is already clear that the number of such groups is rapidly declining. For example, the Sinta Larga tribe had more than 5,000 members 100 years ago, but today their number barely reaches 1,500 people.

Moreone group of Amazonian Indians is known throughout the world as the Bora Bora. The history of this tribe is also rooted in the mists of time. Despite the constant interaction with the civilized world in the face of tourists and scientists, its members continue to strictly observe their traditions and customs.

It is worth noting that almost all tribes on the Amazon River, including Bora Bora, are happy to host "white" guests. However, few of the natives are seduced by life in cities, preferring the dense thickets of the jungle and the endless freedom from prejudices that are characteristic of modern man.

Daily tribal life, Aboriginal activities

The wild tribes of the Amazon and Africa are very similar in their way of life in that their daily activities are based on meeting basic human needs: nutrition and procreation. The main occupation of a woman in them is gathering, making clothes, household utensils and caring for the younger generation. Men are mainly engaged in hunting, fishing, making simple tools and weapons.

The wild tribes of the Amazon, despite their isolation from each other, have much in common. For example, many use bows and blowguns with poisoned arrows for hunting. At the same time, one tribe uses only one type of weapon. In addition, many groups of aborigines who have never met each other make pottery, beads, and clothes similar in shape. Leisure in the tribes of the Amazon never passes aimlessly. Even ordinary dances carry a special ritual meaning.

Customs, beliefs and traditions of the wild tribes of the Amazon

From the moment scientists made contact with some tribes on the banks of the Amazon, attempts were made to understand the essence of their faith and find something in common between the beliefs of the tribes. Then it was found out that the wild tribes of the Amazon begin to believe in monotheism with great difficulty, and more often perceive information about Jesus, for example, as a beautiful fairy tale. They more understand the world of spirits, good or evil - it does not matter. Literally every creature and plant they have is identified with some kind of deity that influences their existence.

Each tribe has its own unique customs: some with the onset of a new period in their lives (puberty, family, birth of a child, etc.) change their names, others do not even undertake daily work without a “blessing » tribal shaman, and still others eat their own kind. Of course, the phenomenon of cannibalism is very rare today, as many of the wild tribes of the Amazon have abandoned this. To date, there is only one tribe of cannibals that still raids small villages of the natives - Korubo.

Amazon woman: what is beauty?

Beauty in the concept of the Amazonian Indians is not at all what most civilized people imagine. Almost every tribe has its own distinctive features, which are especially visible in women. Body painting is ubiquitouscolored clay. The coloring of the villagers depends on the deposits of which of them are in close proximity to the place of residence of the tribe. While some natives paint their bodies with white stripes and swirls, others prefer to decorate their bodies with black, red or yellow designs.

Sometimes the “beauty” of aboriginal women can be shocking, because in the view of a particular tribe it consists in an exorbitantly long neck or a clay plate inserted into the cut of the lower lip. Slightly more acceptable in a civilized society are relief tattoos, piercings, full or partial shaving of hair on the head, and clay coating of braided hair.

Tribal communication with the outside world

Despite the recent isolation and lack of contact with the outside world, the natives of the Amazon tribes in most cases willingly make contact with tourists. Sometimes this becomes the only way for them to survive, because photographs, attendance at the ceremony or consultations with a shaman are well paid.