Kanesquatsontherain forestfloornexttoHarnan,hisguide.SticksrestoverafireKanehasbuilt.Ontop,piranhasareroasting.Today,thesepredatorswillbeatasty lunch.
KaneisdeepintheAmazonrain forest.Heisinthe Matsés (MATsess) NationalReserveinPeru.Milesawayfromanytowns,the Matsés tribelivesoffthegrid.Noelectricity.Noplumbing.Nocellphones.Justmilesof jungle.
Fortwodays,Kanetraveledthroughtherain foresttoreachthe Matsés.Withhimarehisfather — Paul —and aphotographerDomFarrell.Healsohasthreelocalguides:amannamedSergio; Harnan,chiefofthe Matséstribe; andHarnan’sfather.Hismission:tolivelikethe Matsés.
Likethe Matsés,Kanehadtomakemanyofthethingsheneededtosurvive.Natureprovidedallthebasicmaterials.Kanejusthadtolearnhowtousethem.Hisbasictoolwasaknifecalledamachete.Heusedittochopdownwoodandhackintotoughvines.The Matsésusemachetestomakefirewood,fishingrods,and more.
Next,Kanelearnedthatifhewantedlunch,hewasgoingtohavetocatchit.Hisguidestaughthimhowtomakeafishingrod.Kanecutoffasmall,thintreeatitsbase.Hepeeledoffthebark.Thenheattachedsomefishinglineanda hook.Meatscrapswereusedasbait.Tocookanyfishhecaught,Kanehadtolearntomakeafire, too.
Kaneusesamachetetocutathin tree.
Kanewassuccessfulasa fisherman!
Kane’sguidealsoshowedhimhowtomakeabridgefromafallenlog.Usinglongbranchesaspoles,Kanewasabletocrossafast-moving creek.
Bynightfall,Kanewastired.Beforehecouldrest,hehadtobuildashelter.First,hecuttwobigtreebranches,eachwithaYatthetop.Hedugthemintotheground.AstrongbranchbetweenthetwoY’smadeaframeforatarp.Hetieddownthetarpedgeswithvines.Done!Hefellasleepunderthetarp immediately.
MatsésNationalReserve
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Peru
Venezuela
AtlanticOcean
PacificOcean
Amazonrainforest
MatsésNationalReserve