Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis

The Bisaasi-teri tribe of Kaobawa live at the confluence of the Orinoco and Mavaca rivers. Nearly indescernable paths exist, often leading to gardens or neighboring villages. Traveling parties visit neighboring villages, often taking several days. Traveling is done only during the dry season—Sember through March—though footbridges are sometimes constructed to cross small streams during the rainy season.

Snakebite is a constant danger; many die and others lose limbs. Technology includes transitory vine and stick bridges over rivers, and clay pots made for feasts that break easily. Women are considered clumsy and are seldom allowed to use the pots. Weapons are bows, arrows, and brittle curare-poisoned "husu namo" points, used primarily to hunt monkeys. Other "poisons" including hallucinogens are also used, and sometimes the men scrape the darts and sniff it to get high. During the dry season...