Radha H S
# 92, 9th Cross
RMV Extension
Bangalore, India 560 080
Email:radhahs@gmail.com
Amazon River
The local people who lived on the banks of this river called it the Amaru-Mayu or Great Serpent, Mother of Men.They knew the river looked like the huge coils of an Ananconda from a great distance
Aerial view of the river
http://www.brazilbeautyproducts.com/images/amazon%20river1.jpg
But the early Spanish explorers, who visited this part of South America about 450 years ago, told stories of being attacked by fierce warrior women who could each fight 10 men. They knew of a Greek myth which described such warrior women and they were called the Amazons. So they referred to the river as the Amazon and that is what it is called even today.
The botos
The river is home to the boto or the pink dolphin. They are considered special by the local people for it is believed that they can use other water creatures in their daily lives. We know many aquatic creatures eat others in the water. But the botos, they say use the feared anaconda for a hammock to nap on! They also like to dress up in style – the walking catfish become shoes, water snakes their belts and the sting ray for a hat!
For an image of botos
https://www.amersol.edu.pe/ms/7th/7block/jungle_research/new_cards/14/pinkdolphin.jpg
For an image of an anaconda
http://www.infotechart.com/jalbum/records/anaconda.jpg
For centuries man and dolphin lived in harmony. They were never hunted by man for their skin or meat. What protected them?
Myth protecting the Botos?
In Peru, perhaps it was the myth popular among the people along the river – it was said that botos were magical creatures. They had once been human, but now lived beneath the Amazon in underwater worlds. They could turn into humans, but not permanently. In their human form they kidnapped boys and girls and took them to live in the depths of the river. In fact even staring into their eyes could cause nightmares. Killing them brought bad luck and eating them was out of the question for they had been human!
Let’s hope the great Amazon River continues to snake through the Amazon forest and magical botos continue to nap on their Ananconda hammocks.