KARAJA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE WHO SPEAK KARAJA IN BRAZIL. THIS TRIBE USED TO BE A HUNTING AND FARMING SOCIETY THAT WAS PARTIALLY DISPLACED WHEN A HUGE IRON ORE DEPOSIT WAS FOUND HERE. THEY LIVE ON A RESERVATION ON AN ISLAND ALONG THE ARAQUAIA RIVER. BY THE 1970'S IT WAS BADLY MANAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT. TODAY THEY MAKE DOLLS THAT ARE OF HIGH VALUE AND SOLD.

THEY TRADITIONALLY LIVED OFF HUNTING AND FISHING AND THEY DIDN'T COLLECT PLANT FOODS APPARENTLY. THERE WERE TWO SISTERS AS THE TALE GOES AND 1 NIGHT THEIR FATHER TOLD THEM A SHORT STORY. ONE SISTER THOUGHT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE STARS WERE. SHE ASKED WHAT WAS THAT IN THE SKY. HER FATHER ANSWERED SAYING IT WAS TAHINA-CA. IT IS FAR AWAY. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET IT IS TO REALLY WISH FOR IT IN YOUR HEART. SHE WISHED FOR THE STAR EVERY NIGHT.

ONE DAY SOMEONE CAME TO HER HOUSE. IT WAS TAHINA-CA. OUT OF JOY SHE WENT TO THE FIREPLACE WHERE SHE BUILT A FIRE. SHE CALLED HER FATHER TO SEE HOW BIG THE STAR WAS. SHE BECAME DISAPPOINTED WHEN SHE REALIZED THE BIG GLOWING STAR WAS ONLY A VERY OLD MAN WITH WHITE HAIR. SHE SHOUTED AT HIM AND GOT VERY ANGRY. SHE SAID GO AWAY! TAHINA-CA TURNED HIS BACK AND STARTED TO CRY. THE YOUNG SISTER WAS SORRY FOR THE OLD MAN. SHE SAID I WILL MARRY YOU; THEN THE MAN BECAME HAPPY.

AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE THE MAN SAID I MUST PREPARE A PIECE OF LAND TO PLANT SOME PLANTS THAT YOUR PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN. HE WAS A WEAK MAN AND I WENT TO THE RIVER AND WOULD DIP HIS HAND INTO THE WATER. TO PICK UP SOME SEEDS. OTHER TIMES SHE WENT TO THE RIVER TO GET PLANTS. THEN HE CUT TREES FROM THE FOREST . THE WIFE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR HER HUSBAND. SHE FOUND THE OPEN CLEARING AND A YOUNG MAN TOILING. AND A YOUNG MAN TOILING AND SPREADING ASHES THERE. AS THE WIFE WAS AFRAID HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN HURT SHE ASKED HIM IF HE HAD SEEN AN OLD MAN. HE SMILED AND SAID I AM TAHINA-CA. I TOOK OFF THAT DISGUISE TO SEE IF THE ONE THAT WISHED ME WOULD REALLY WANT ME DISPITE MY LOOKS. HE SAID LET'S GO BACK TO SHOW THEM ALL THESE PLANTS. THE FIRST WAS SAD THAT SHE HAD REFUSED HIM. SHE FAINTED AND BECAME A BIRD OF PREY WHO SHOUTS DURING THE NIGHT AS SOON AS THE STARS COME OUT.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG