KARAJA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 WHO SPEAK KRAJA. THIS TRIBE USED TO BE A HUNTING AND FARMING SOCIETY. THAT WAS PARTIALLY DISPLACED WHEN A HUGE IRON ORE DEPOSIT WAS FOUND THERE. THEY LIVED 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 ARE SO;D. THEY ORIGINALLY LIVED OFF HUNTING , FISHING, AND THEY DIDN'T COLLECT PLANT FOODS.

THERE WERE TWO SISTERS AS THE TALE GOES. ONE NIGHT THEIR FATHER TOLD THEM A STORY.
ONE SISTER SAID THE STARS ARE BEAUTIFUL. AND 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 THERE 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 AND GREW A FIRE. SHE CALLED HER FATHER AND SISTER JUST 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 BECAME VERY ANGRY. SHE SAID GO AWAY TAHINA-CA. HE 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 WAS HAPPY.

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

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.COM