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Archiver > MEXICAN-INDIAN > 2006-03 > 1142137565


From: Dani Brown <>
Subject: Matis Indians
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:26:05 -0800 (PST)


Matis Indians


Area: Vale do Javari, Brazil (Map)

Population: 239 (2000)

Language Root: Pano

First Contact: 1976

Economy: Hunting and Fishing

Today: Isolated

Early explorers confused the Matis as belonging to the
Mayoruna or Marubo. There is little chance that the
Matis had avoided earlier contact. Their facial
ornaments are a mystical homage to the Jaguar. The
blow gun used by the Matis is accurate up to thirty
meters. They can kill a hummingbird in flight that has
a defense reaction of 1/20th of a second. Due to
minimal contact, there is very little known about the
Matis. Small masks are used in a ritual for children.
This tradition was stopped for many years as the Matis
felt their population dwindling. Recently they started
to produce them again.

The Matis are masters of curare. Of the Amazon groups
that use it, each have their own magical method for
making this venom. Curare arrived in the Old World on
the tongues of a thousand legends and tales. First
known as "Wourali", it was brought to Queen Elizabeth
by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584. It was Charles Waterton
(1782-1865) who introduced curare to our medical
world. Today the synthetic is used on a daily basis as
an anesthesia around the world. It is one of the
greatest contributions and gifts given by the Amazon
Indians.



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