SHARANAOA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

THEY LIVE IN THE AREA OF THE UPPER REACHES OF THE RIO PURUS PRIMARILY IN PERU AND SOME IN BRAZIL. THERE ARE MANY SUBTRIBES. THE POPULATION OF ALL OF THESE MIXED CULTURES IS ESTIMATED AT 1800. THEY SPEAK PANOIAN.

THEY FLED A PERUVIAN TO THE RIO CURANJA IN ABOUT 1955. THEY LEFT THE CURANJA AFTER A MEASLES EPIDEMIC AND REACHED THEIR CURRENT LANDS IN 1940'S. THEN THEY HAD AN EPIDEMIC TO THE FLU, AND MEASLES. THEIR POPULATION DROPPED . THEY BELIEVED THESE EPIDEMICS WERE CAUSED BY PERUVIAN BOMBS. THE STRANGERS DID NOT ACQUIRE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE CANOES AND FISHING NETS UNTIL THE 1960'S. SINCE THEN A FEW SHARANAHUA HAVE BECOME MIGRANT LABORERS TO GET GOODS AND CASH. THEY TRADED WITH MERCHANTS AND EXCHANGE ANIMAL SKINS FOR GUNS, POTS, RUM , CLOTHING AND FLASHLIGHTS. THEY SELL SKINS AND TURTLE EGGS DOWN RIVER. THEY WOULD KILL A TRADER WHEN HE CHEATED THEM. THEY REFUSED TO PAY DEBTS AGAINST THE VALUE OF SKINS. UNTIL THE 1940'S AND 1950'S THEIR GARDENING WAS DONE IN THE UPLAND GARDENS. WHEN THEY MOVE TO THE RIO PURUS AT ABOUT THAT TIME THEY GREW CROPS ON THE FLOOD PLAIN.

IN THE SPRING WOMEN RAISE FAST MATURING MAIZE, WATERMELONS, PEANUTS, FOR THE FALL RAINS. MEN GROW BANANAS, PLAINTAINS, AND SUGARCANE IN THE FLOODPLAINS. THEIR GARDENS PRODUCE 60% OF SHARANAHUA FOODS.

WOMEN GATHER VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND FUNGI FROM THE FOREST AND TAKE SHRIMP AND FISH FROM THE WATER LOGGED BAMBOO. THE MEN HUNT GAME, BUT MORE CATCH BIRDS OR MONKEYS FOR FOOD. HUNTING IS THEIR MAIN JOB OF OLDER MEN AND BOYS. THE MEAT IS ABOUT 30% OF THEIR DIET. THEY USE A POISON TO CATCH AND STUN THEIR FISH AND MEN SPEAR THEM.

THEIR VILLAGE IS SMALL AND LESS THAN 2000 PEOPLE. THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSES IN A LINE. THEY ARE ON POSTS ABOVE GROUND AND HAVE THATCHED ROOFS AND OFTEN HAVE BARK WALLS.

THEIR ELEVATION FROM THE GROUND PROTECTS THEM FROM RAIN AND IS A BARRIER TO THE DOGS AND CHICKENS.THEY HAVE A SEPARATE HAVE A SEPARATE COOK HOUSE. THEY SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IS BASED ON SISTER EXCHANGE. THEY INTERMARRY WITH DESCENT GROUPS. THEY LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHERS'S FAMILY.

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THEY MIGRATED





TO THE RIO