A Note On Rio Das Tropas

Register to read the introduction… My husband had been coming over to see me at the women's house at night a lot since our period of avoidance ended so I'm not surprised. He would come get me from my house and we would go to the forest to have sex before retiring for the night. Although I am pregnant there is still much to do around our village and work must go on as usual.

I have been helping the other women in my house take care of their children so I am prepared for when my baby comes. One of the other women in my kin group has taken it upon herself to teach me the taboos to avoid while I am pregnant so my child will be born healthy and strong. On my daily trips to the Rio das Tropas to bath I keep my eyes down to avoid snakes and jaguars. It is believed that if I see these animals I will become sick and my child will die. At the river I bath quickly with the others and then leave so not to see any water animals, which if seen will cause my baby to not walk properly.

My husband has gone out hunting with the other men in his house for the sacrifice tonight. While he was out …show more content…
I have to make sure I watch what I eat in order to protect my unborn child. I make it a point at each meal now to drink liquid from the biribo tree in order to ease child birthing pains. When dinner is finished and the women have cleaned up we went and joined the men again. The Chief of our village was present and some of the men played the guitar. The music enchants the spirit of Karoko to come out, except us women cannot see it. Karoko is a significant part of the Mundurucu culture and his presence is significant. I, however, don't stay long because I am tired and not feeling well. A couple of the other women from my house decide to head home to retire for the night. We make certain to avoid the underbrush on our walk, fearful that the Yurupari, and evil spirit that hides in the underbrush, does not show