TheMatséshuntallkindsofrain forestcreaturesforfood.Pig-likepeccaries.Rabbit-sizedrodentscalledpacas.Wildturkeys.Tohuntthem,theyuseabowand arrow.
Matsésbowsandarrowsarefinelycrafted,andtheyareprecious.Kane’sgrouphadonlyonebowandonearrow,whichbelongedtothebesthunter.Heshareditwith everyone.
Kanesoonlearnedhowmuchskillittooktohuntinthisway.Thebowwasastallashewas.Thearrowhadtwoforksonthetip.Becauseitwastheonlyone,ithadtoberetrievedaftereveryshot.Ifitbroke,theMatsésfixedtheshaftandkeptusing it.
OnenightKanewentalongonawildturkeyhunt.Kanewasamazedbythehunters’skillattrackinganimalsbysound.Theyknewexactlywhichanimalmadewhichsound.TheMatséscouldalsomimic,orcopy,ananimal’scalltolocateit.Thentheymovedalong noiselessly.
CitydwellersKaneandhisdadmadetoomuchnoiseastheymoved.TheMatsésaskedthemtostaystilluntiltheyhadfoundtheanimalorbirdtheywere after.
Suddenly,theguidespottedaturkey.HehandedKanethebowandarrow.Whoosh!Kane'sarrowjustmissed,andthebirdescaped.Aluckydayforthebird,butnotoneforKaneandthe Matsés!
Kanepracticeshishuntingskillswithabowand arrow.
Kanecrossesafast-movingcreekonabridgehehelpedbuildfromafallen log.
MatsésWays
One day,thegrouppaddledadugoutcanoeforninehours.Theywantedtogotoadifferentsettlementwherethepeoplestillfollowtheirancient ways.
Peopleherepiercetheirnoseswiththethinribsofpalmleaves.Theyaresometimescalledthe“catpeople”becausethepalmleaveslooklikethewhiskersofjaguars.Menalsowearnecklacesofjaguar teeth.
Beforea hunt,themenheresometimesholdceremoniestomakethemstrong.Inone,anelderblowssmokefromamixoftobaccoandcacao(cocoabean)upthenostrilsofanotherhunter.Inanotherceremony,menburntheirskinandthenrubpoisonintotheburnedarea.Kanedidnottrythosetwo customs!
jaguar
Thistribeofpeoplereverethejaguar.Theypiercetheirnoseswithpiecesofpalmstomimicajaguar’s whiskers.