We arrived at the Pataxó Reserve with our tour guide, Max. The Pataxo Indians are on of the many tribes that live in Brasil. Many of the other tribes lost against the Portuguese when they came. The Pataxó is one the tribes that survived the attack.
So after we waited for little bit, an old Indian man greeted us. He welcomed us into the reserve.
We first had to sign our names in a little hut-type thing where two other Indian men were sitting. Then after we all had signed our names the old Indian man walked us up into the reserve.
The reserve was in a forest. Little mud huts with straw roofs were planted around the reserve. There were little Indian children playing in the sand and other tourists walking around the reserve, too.
The Indian first led us into a bigger hut with no walls and a big straw roof. In the middle of the hut there was an Indian woman carved out of wood that was holding a spear in her right hand and a long cylinder shaker in her left and. The Indian then took a little shaker and started to shake it. He was calling the other Indians. Three Indians came out. One of them was a woman. She explained their rituals and other things about the reserve.
After that another one of the Indians named, Friendly, showed us around.
He showed us the different plants they used for medicine.
He also showed us a replica of a Pataxó house. He showed us the way of communication back then.
Then we came to a trail that would lead us through the forest. We came across five Indian traps. One of them was for catching big animals. It was a big, deep pit covered with leaves and other plants. The animal would come and when it stands on the trap he will fall into the pit.
Another one traps little birds. The Indian would put one piece of bird food on one side of the trap, and one on the other side. The bird would come and eat one of the seeds and then see the one on the other side. So the bird would hop over to the other side, but then the bird would trip on the string that would wrap around the bird and strangle it.
The last trap is where an Indian climbs up tall ladder and waits until the panther comes and then kills the panther with a bow and arrow.
After we finished the trail we went to the souvenir shop
There were whistles and costumes, dream catcher and weapons.
My brother, like he is, picks the whole costume and a bow and arrow.
I picked the spear that was leaning against the table.
At the end of our trip the Pataxó did a little circle dance for us.
Let Passion Be Your Guide 