The Riverpeople live in open sided homes along the shores of the Amazon River. During the rainy season, they move to higher ground because anaconda snakes become a menace especially for small children. As mentioned before, the couples who settle along the river are often not from the same tribe. Luis explained that couples would leave the tribes they grew up in to be together.

Families subsist mostly by fishing and growing sugar cane and vegetables in small gardens.

It is important to maintain their small dugout canoes in good working order.

From an early age, children feel comfortable on the water.

It is common to see mothers bathing their children in the River water.

A local taxi service.

We were invited into the home of a River family.

Our little hostess made us welcome.

This is where the family sleeps.

They were starting the daily fish soup, made from the parts of the fish that were not set out to dry.

 

Manioc, which is harvested from the jungle and is a regular staple, will be added to the soup, along with herbs and green vegetables.

Fish drying. There is no refrigeration and so food preservation is an important daily concern.

Kitchen essentials.

 

We went on to visit this little boy’s family home a short distance up river.

He showed us his baby pet sloth. But watch out for his sharp nails.

A green parrot screamed Hola at us from the rafters.

 

Grandma told us that her daughter had gone to the city and came back pregnant with the little boy.

The little boy’s mother, a pretty young woman with a friendly smile.

The boy’s uncle, the main breadwinner of the family, showed us an anaconda that got caught in his fishing net. It will be dinner.

This anaconda was small compared to others that he has seen.

Gleaming pots and pans were stacked, ready for use.

It was time for us to leave. They escorted us through some sugar cane and waved good-bye.