TheMatséshuntedallkindsofrainforestcreaturesforfood.They stalked pig-likepeccaries; rabbit-sizerodentscalled pacas; long-snoutedtapirs; andwildturkeys.Tokillthem,theyusedbowsand arrows.
Matsésbowsandarrowsarefinelycrafted,andtheyareprecious.Kane’sgrouphadonebow andonearrow,whichbelongedtothebesthunter.Heshareditwith everyone.
Kanesoonlearnedhowmuchskillittooktohuntwiththistraditionalweapon.Thebowwasastallashewas,craftedfromararetypeofwood.The arrow hadtwoforksonthetip.Becauseitwastheonlyone,ithadtoberetrievedaftereveryshot.Ifitbroke,the Matsés fixedtheshaftandkeptusing it.
OnenightKanewentalongonawildturkeyhunt.Thegroupcreptthroughtheforestwearingheadlamps.Theyneededthelighttosee,buthadtoputupwiththeswarmsofinsectsthelight attracted.
Therain forestisalivewithstrangecallssuchascawsandgrowls,dayandnight.Kanewasamazedbythehunters’skillattrackinganimalsbysound.Theyknewexactlywhichanimalmadewhich sound.
The Matsés couldalsomimic,orcopy,ananimal’scalltolocateit.Thentheymovedalongalmostnoiselessly.City dwellersKaneandhisdadmadesomuchnoisethattheMatsésaskedthemtostaystilluntiltheyhadfoundtheanimalorbirdtheywere after.
Kanepracticeshishuntingskillswithabowand arrow.
Kanecrossesafast-movingcreekonabridgehehelpedbuildfromafallen log.
Suddenly,theguidespottedawildturkey.HehandedKanethebowandarrow.Kaneaimedandshotthearrow.Whoosh!Kanejustmissed,andthebirdtookflight.Thehuntendedwellfortheturkey,buttheMatsés weren’thappyaboutmissingameal.Kanehimselfwasconflicted.Hewashungrybutdidn’treallywanttoharmthe turkey.
MatsésWays
Oneday,thegrouppaddledadugoutcanoeforninehours.Theywantedtogotoadifferentsettlementwherethepeoplestillfollowtheirancient ways.
Womenherepiercetheirnoseswiththethinribsofpalmleavestocreatetheeffectofwhiskers.Theyaresometimesreferredtoasthe “catpeople,” becausethe “whiskers” suggesttheappearanceofjaguars.Thejaguar,afiercerain forestpredator,isadmiredforitsstrength.Menwearnecklacesofjaguar teeth.
Beforeahunt,the Matsés mensometimesholdceremoniesbelievedtomakethembetter,strongerhunters.Inthetobaccoceremony,anelderblowssmokefrom amixoftobaccoandcacao (cocoabean)throughalongpipeupthenostrilsofanotherhunter.Inthekambooracateceremony,menburntheirskinandthenrubsapo, poisonfromatreefrog,intotheburnedarea.Those aretwoMatséscustomsthat Kane didn’t try!
jaguar
Thistribeofpeoplereverethejaguar.Theypiercetheirnoseswithpiecesofpalmstomimicajaguar’s whiskers.