In the Mouth of the Amazon
Season 1 Episode 102 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The Brazilian city of Belem is a showcase of products from the great river basin.
The famed açai berry is expanding Belem’s reputation. Reclusive river people, called ribeirinhos harvest the berries by climbing the tall palms where they grow and rush the produce by boat to the port. There they trade for other goods, and quickly escape the city to return to their tranquil, timeless lives at the edge of the world’s greatest river. Visit the city and river homes of Belem.
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In the America's with David Yetman is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
In the Mouth of the Amazon
Season 1 Episode 102 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The famed açai berry is expanding Belem’s reputation. Reclusive river people, called ribeirinhos harvest the berries by climbing the tall palms where they grow and rush the produce by boat to the port. There they trade for other goods, and quickly escape the city to return to their tranquil, timeless lives at the edge of the world’s greatest river. Visit the city and river homes of Belem.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipTHE RESILIENT CITY OF BELEM LIES AT THE MOUTH OF THE MIGHTY AMAZON.
ONE NEWLY FAMOUS AMAZONIAN FRUIT CAN BE FOUND ONLY HERE, AÇAÍ.
IT HAS MADE RECLUSIVE RIVER PEOPLE INTO ENTREPRENEURS AND BOAT PEOPLE INTO MERCHANTS.
TO FIND IT GROWING WE MUST PENETRATE THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF NATIVES IN THE LABYRINTHINE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON.
FUNDING FOR IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN WAS PROVIDED BY AGNES HAURY.
[MUSIC] MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT BRAZIL GO FIRST TO THE GREAT CITIES OF RIO DE JANEIRO OR SAN PAULO BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF BRAZIL THAT IS EQUALLY INTERESTING THOUGH FAR LESS KNOWN, THE AMAZON RIVER AND ITS MAGNIFICENT TROPICAL FOREST.
THE AMAZON DWARFS NEARLY EVERY OTHER RIVER IN THE WORLD.
IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST IF NOT THE LONGEST, ABOUT 4,000 MILES.
IT IS NEARLY 60 MILES WIDE AT THE MOUTH.
IT IS 20 TIMES LARGER THAN THE LARGEST RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MISSISSIPPI.
IT IS 600 TIMES LARGER THAN THE LARGEST RIVER IN THE SOUTHWEST, THE COLORADO RIVER.
IT CONTAINS ONE FOURTH OF ALL THE FRESH WATER IN THE WORLD.
IT HAS SO MANY SPECIES OF FISH THAT AT LEAST 20% TO 25% OF THEM HAVE NEVER BEEN IDENTIFIED.
THE AMAZON IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD.
THERE IS NOTHING AND NOWHERE ELSE LIKE IT.
BUT I'VE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE DESERT.
FOR ME, THE AMAZON IS A BROODING, ALIEN, WATERY WORLD.
I NEED TO LOOK UP THIS FRIEND OF A FRIEND WHO KNOWS THE LABYRINTHINE CHANNELS AND CURRENTS OF THE LOWER AMAZON.
MAYBE I CAN GET HIM TO SHOW ME AROUND.
YOU GREW UP IN THE CITY OF BELEM MAYBE 25 MILES FROM HERE.
YES, I DID.
BUT THIS IS PART OF YOUR BACKGROUND.
THIS IS PART OF MY BACKGROUND.
THIS IS WHERE I WOULD MOST LIKELY SPEND A WEEKEND.
JUST A WEEKEND?
YEAH.
I WOULD GET ON MY CANOE OR MY KAYAK, FIBERGLASS KAYAK, NOT A WOODEN CANOE AND GO EXPLORING, GO FISHING, FISHING FOR PIRANHAS, LOOKING AT THE BIRDS.
WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?
I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY.
WHAT DO YOU DO THERE?
I WORK WITH FINANCE IN A BANK.
SO YOU'RE A BANKER IN NEW YORK CITY.
YES.
AND YOU GREW UP ON THE AMAZON.
THAT IS CORRECT, YES.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING AWAY FROM THE AMAZON WHERE YOU GREW UP?
THESE ARE MY ROOTS AND THIS IS WHERE I'M FROM.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY AND LIFE HERE ON THE BANKS OF THE AMAZON.
DEFINITELY.
THE JUNGLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT JUNGLES.
YES.
[MUSIC] THE CITY OF BELEM OR BETHLEHEM SITS PRETTY MUCH AT THE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON.
THE METROPOLITAN AREA HAS OVER TWO MILLION PEOPLE.
IT'S AN ODDITY IN THAT ITS ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE BASED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON TRADE UP AND DOWN THE AMAZON BUT IT'S AS IF IT'S A HUGE RAILROAD SYSTEM CONNECTING THE INTERIOR OF BRAZIL WITH THE COAST AND IMMENSE QUANTITIES OF PRODUCTS MOVE DOWN AND SOME MOVE UP AS WELL.
THE PRINCIPLE INDUSTRY FOR BELEM, IT'S A BIG CITY, IS STILL THE AMAZON TRADE COMMERCE.
THEY EXPORT A LOT OF WOOD OUT OF HERE, BOTH SIDES.
YES, THERE IS A BIG PLANT HERE.
THESE ARE THE GUYS COMING WITH THE AÇAÍ.
THEY BRING THE AÇAÍ TO THE CITY AND THEY TAKE BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES CITY GOODS; FOR EXAMPLE BEER.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED A BIG LOAD OF BEER THERE.
OF COURSE THE FARINA.
THE FARINA... THAT'S MANIOC FLOUR.
IT'S MANIOC BUT THEY NEED A BIG MACHINE TO PROCESS IT AND THE MACHINE IS IN THE CITY.
SO THEY BRING THE AÇAÍ, BRING THE FARINA, THEY TRADE IT WITH THE FARINA AND BEER AND HAMMOCKS, CITY GOODS.
THEN THEY'LL ALSO, WILL THEY SELL SOME OF IT TO HAVE CASH?
OF COURSE, YES.
AND YOU SEE THE LITTLE KID WITH THE BAG, LOOKS LIKE A BAG OF GROCERIES.
YEAH, YEAH.
THEY ALSO, THAT'S WHERE THEY TRADE AND THEY BUY THEIR KITCHEN UTENSILS, METALS, PLASTIC.
SO THEY WILL SELL SOME OF IT AND TRADE OTHERS.
EXACTLY, YES.
EVERY DAY THEY COME.
EVERY DAY, YES.
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?
HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
BELEM WAS FOUNDED IN 1616 AND OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MOTORBOATS THEN AND IT WAS ALL ON PADDLE.
BUT NOW WHAT CHANGED, THEY HAVE MOTORS NOW.
BEFORE THE PORTUGUESE BUILT THE ROADS IN THERE THIS IS THE HIGHWAYS AND THAT'S HOW THEY MOVE AROUND, WITH THE LITTLE BOATS.
SO FROM BELEM THERE'S ONE HIGHWAY COMING IN.
COMING IN, YES.
HOW ABOUT GOING OUT?
IT'S THE SAME.
SAME ONE.
SO THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD, RIGHT?
YES.
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS TO BE BY BOAT.
THAT IS CORRECT.
WHAT ARE THE PALAFITOS?
THE PALAFITOS ARE BASICALLY THE SLUMS, THE FAVELAS ON THE WATER.
AND IN THE BACKGROUND YOU CAN SEE THE HIGH RISES.
WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH THE BOATS WHO SEEM TO MATERIALIZE AT THE DOCK?
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
WHAT IS THIS AÇAÍ THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEM?
ALL ALONG THE RIVER WE'RE SEEING THESE HUTS.
THEY ARE THE RIVERINES.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THERE.
THEY'RE THE RIVER PEOPLE.
YES, THE RIVER PEOPLE OR THE AMAZONIAN COBOCLO, SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM THIS WAY.
AND THEY LIVE THEIR SIMPLE LIFE, NO ELECTRICITY IN THEIR LITTLE HUTS.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE RUN INTO RAIN?
I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RUN INTO RAIN CAUSE THEY GET OVER 100 INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR AROUND HERE.
A SHOWER OR A STORM IS NEVER MORE THAN A FEW HOURS AWAY.
IN THE AMAZON THERE ARE TWO SEASONS; THE RAINY SEASON WHEN IT RAINS MOST OF THE TIME AND THE NOT QUITE SO RAINY SEASON WHEN THERE ARE JUST SHOWERS EVERY DAY.
THE SHOWERS IN THE NOT QUITE SO RAINY SEASON ARE SO PUNCTUAL THAT PEOPLE TEND TO SAY THEY CAN SET THEIR CLOCKS BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE REFRESHING AFTERNOON RAINS.
IT'S MY FIRST BOAT RIDE ON THE AMAZON AND I APPROVE IT COMPLETELY.
I PARTICULARLY LOVE THIS FOREST AT THE EDGE.
IT'S BLINDINGLY GREEN, IT'S MYSTERIOUS, IT'S EVERYTHING THE AMAZON IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
I THOUGHT COCOA ORIGINATED IN MEXICO.
WRONG.
IT GROWS WILD IN THE AMAZON TOO.
THEY PLANT THIS COCOA HERE IN THE BACKYARD AND THEY HAVE TO SPREAD IT IN THE SUN FOR SEVEN DAYS AND THEN AFTER THE SEVEN DAYS THEY DO THE ROASTING PROCESS AND FROM THERE THEY HAVE TO GET THE OUTER SKIN OUT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS LABOR INTENSIVE.
YES.
THAT TAKES HUGE AMOUNTS OF WORK.
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A LIVING OUT OF THIS, THEY DO THIS SO OFTEN THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE FINGERPRINTS.
OH, MY GOSH, JUST WARN DOWN THE TIPS OF THEIR FINGERS.
YES.
OH, MY.
AND PROBABLY THE HEAT ALSO BURNS A LITTLE BIT OF IT OFF EACH TIME.
THE ECONOMY HERE IS MOSTLY BASED ON COCOA AND AÇAÍ BERRIES.
THIS PROCESS TAKES A LONG TIME.
MARKET PRICE FOR THE DRY COCOA BEAN IS $2.00 A KILO BUT THE PASTE SELLS FOR ABOUT $7.00 A KILO.
I LIVE HERE BECAUSE WE BREATHE PURE OXYGEN AND THERE IS ALWAYS A BREEZE.
WE DON'T GET SICK.
IT'S A VERY HEALTHY PLACE.
HOWEVER, TWICE A YEAR THE RAINS ARE REALLY HEAVY.
THE MOSQUITOES GET BAD AND OUR HOMES AND GARDENS GET FLOODED.
THE FLOODS BRING OUT LOTS OF SNAKES AND OTHER WILD CREATURES AND WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR POISONOUS SPIDERS.
WE CALL WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW CARAMELIZING.
THE MORE I POUND IT THE MORE IT CARAMELIZES.
THE COBOCLO IS A NATIVE WHO LIVES IN THE JUNGLE LIVING OFF THE LAND AND WATER.
HE HAS HIS OWN CUSTOMS AND WAYS.
HE'S A SEMI INDIAN, A DESCENDANT OF THE ORIGINAL NATIVES.
THE PEOPLE HERE, THEY ARE NOT WHITE, THEY'RE NOT INDIAN, THEY'RE A COMBINATION OF RACIAL ORIGINS AND THEY HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING SECRETIVE.
THEY PREFER TO KEEP TO THEMSELVES, THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A BIG CITY AND THEY'D RATHER NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE EXCEPT TO SELL THEIR MERCHANDISE TO.
CHILDREN GROW UP WITH WATER AS JUST AN INHERENT PART OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE RIVER BECOMES AS NATURAL AND NORMAL TO THEM AS SUNLIGHT, SUN UP, SUNSET.
[MUSIC] THOUSANDS OF BOATS TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE AMAZON.
EVERY ONE OF THE BOATS IS WELL EQUIPPED WITH HAMMOCK HOOKS AND HAMMOCKS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP ON THE AMAZON.
FEELS COMFORTABLE?
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT, YEAH.
GOOD NIGHT, BRAZIL.
ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL TWO HOURS OF LIGHT AND IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED.
THIS IS OUR BOAT CAPTAIN.
IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ANYBODY IS AT THE HELM BUT THE CONDITIONS ARE PRETTY GENTLE.
WE HAVE A BREEZE NOW COMING OFF THE ATLANTIC THAT IS CAUSING SOME WAVES.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERING HIM TOO MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM MAKE A LITTLE MORE PROGRESS.
IT'S GOING DOWN RIVER BUT IT'S FRESH WATER, THE WATER IS WARM AND I'M TOLD YOU CAN STAY IN THIS WATER FOR 20 HOURS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM IN THAT THE CURRENT IS VERY SWIFT.
I'M LOSING MY SWIMSUIT.
I LOST MY HEAD SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR SWIMSUIT.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE THESE MIRACULOUS BERRIES THEY CALL AÇAÍ?
LATELY I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT EVERYWHERE AND I KNOW IT'S GOOD FOR ME AND THAT THE RIBEREÑOS ALONG THE LOWER AMAZON BRING THEM TO THE MARKET.
CHAGO PROMISED THAT HE'LL TAKE ME TO WHERE THEY GATHER THE AÇAÍ.
[MUSIC] GATHERING AND SELLING THE AÇAÍ FRUIT IS A FAMILY OPERATION.
THE MEN GO OUT INTO THE FOREST EACH MORNING AND BRING IN HUGE BASKETS.
THEY'RE FROM A PALM TREE.
THEY'RE EXTRAORDINARILY NUTRITIOUS BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR VITAMIN CONTENT WHICH IS OFF THE CHARTS IN TERMS OF THE CONCENTRATION OF VITAMIN C BUT ALSO THEY'RE A BASIC FOOD STUFF HERE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST A FOOD, THEY'RE A BASIC FOOD, AS YOU CAN EXPECT BEING THE FRUIT OF A PALM.
AS SOON AS I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED A PERSON, AT 10, 12 YEARS OF AGE, I STARTED WORKING WITH MY DAD.
THERE ARE TWO HARVEST SEASONS FOR THE AÇAÍ BERRY.
WE TAKE THIS HARVEST TO THE CITY OF BELEM, THE BIG CITY, EVERY DAY AND SELL IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE AÇAÍ LIQUID.
RIGHT NOW IT'S A GOOD TIME TO HARVEST.
THERE IS A LOT OF DEMAND AND PRICES ARE HIGH.
SO, DAVE, THIS IS THE AÇAÍ.
THEY CLIMB UP THE TREE AND THEY BRING THIS DOWN.
ONCE THEY BRING THIS DOWN THEY GO LIKE THIS WITH THEIR HANDS AND THEN JUST COME UP AND THEY PICK UP THE BEST ONES AND THEY SELL IT IN THE MARKET.
AND FROM THERE IT GOES ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT MOSTLY I THINK IT'S CONSUMED IN BRAZIL.
MOST OF IT'S CONSUMED IN BELEM.
MY FRIEND CHAGO IS AN ACCOMPLISHED AÇAÍ TREE CLIMBER.
HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS FEET DON'T SLIP DOWN.
HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE.
YOU ONLY 80 FEET TO GO NOW CHAGO AND YOU'LL BE UP THERE.
IT TAKES VERY STRONG ANKLES.
THAT'S HOW THEY GO UP.
OF COURSE THEY HAVE MORE GRACE.
THIS IS A BYPRODUCT, THE SEEDS, AND THEY USE IT FOR MANY THINGS, FERTILIZER AND ALSO THEY USE IT FOR REPLANTING THEM.
SO THEY JUST CUT THIS AND THROW THEM AROUND, WHAT GROWS, GROWS.
WE HAVE JOHNNY APPLESEED IN ENGLISH SO ANYBODY WHO GOES AROUND PLAYING WOULD BE JOHNNY AÇAÍSEED.
NOW YOU'RE TEACHING ME SOME NEW WORDS.
SO THIS IS A THREE-TOED SLOTH, RIGHT?
CORRECT.
AND THIS IS A MALE, DAVE.
THE MALES HAVE THIS MARK ON THE BACK.
ISN'T THAT AMAZING.
JUST THE MALES, THE FEMALES DON'T HAVE THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS BIG INDENTATION BUT IT'S JUST A PLACE WHERE THE FUR IS BLACK.
AND IT'S A BABY TOO.
HE'S PART OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
THAT IS CORRECT.
HE'S SORT OF LIKE ANOTHER CHILD.
AND HE'S HOW OLD DO YOU THINK?
HE'S PROBABLY SIX MONTHS OLD CAUSE THEY GROW BIG.
THEY DO MOVE SLOWLY, DON'T THEY, SLOWLY AND DELIBERATE.
ON THE TREES BUT BOY THEY'RE GOOD SWIMMERS.
YEAH.
I SUSPECT AN ADULT COULD DO A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH THESE TOES.
YES.
DO YOU WANT TO FEEL THEM?
YEAH.
YEAH, YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF HE'S THAT STRONG AT, OW, AT JUST A FEW MONTHS THEY MUST BE INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
FASCINATING.
LOOK AT THE FACES.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A MONA LISA SMILE.
WHAT THEY CALL THE KOALAS OF THE AMAZON.
I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH A MANGROVE AMAZON PARROT.
THEY ARE ENDEARING.
THE NATIVES SAID THE LOGGERS KNOCKED DOWN THE TREE WHERE THE PARENTS WERE NESTING WITH THE CHICKS AND THIS IS THE ONLY CHICK THAT SURVIVED AND NOW THEY ARE RAISING IT.
THEY'RE SURE TO GET THE RIGHT FOOD FOR IT SINCE THIS IS WHERE IT'S COMING FROM SO IT'LL HAVE A NATIVE DIET FOR SURE.
AND THEY WILL PROBABLY ALSO TEACH HIM HOW TO TALK.
YOU'D THINK THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE THE ONLY SOUNDS THAT YOU WOULD HEAR WOULD BE BIRD CALLS AND MONKEY SOUNDS BUT THE SOUND OF MOTORS, THE BING, BING, BING, BING, BING OF THOSE ONE CYLINDER MOTORS IS NEARLY CONSTANT.
THE TRAFFIC GOES ON ALL DAY AND EVEN WELL INTO THE NIGHT.
IT'S RATHER REMINISCENT OF THE AFRICAN QUEEN.
I THINK I SEE HUMPHREY BOGART SITTING THERE AT THE STEERING WHEEL.
[MOTOR] AND ONCE AGAIN WE GET CAUGHT IN A SUDDEN AMAZON RAIN WITH A VERY SLICK RAMP.
THE TIDE AS IT COMES UP LEAVES A NICE LITTLE LAYER OF SILT.
THEY HAVEN'T MADE A NICE WALKWAY FOR ME SO I WILL SHOW HOW DEXTEROUS I AM TO CLIMB UP INTO THE OVERHANG AND NOT GET WET AT ALL.
AMAZING.
AMAZON RAINFALL, 30 SECONDS, EVERY DAY.
THAT RAIN LASTED MORE THAN ANY 30 SECONDS.
THE COBOCLOS DON'T SEEM TO PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT.
I WONDER IF THE RAIN WILL FOLLOW THE BOAT ALL THE WAY BACK TO BELEM AND TO THE MARKET WHERE THEY SELL THE AÇAÍ.
CAN THIS REALLY BE THE DRY SEASON?
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY IN THE DRY SEASON FOR BELEM.
THE DRY SEASON, THAT'S RIGHT.
I DON'T' KNOW HOW MANY TIMES A DAY IT CAN RAIN.
I WAS DEFINITELY NOT MADE TO LIVE IN A 100 INCHES A YEAR CLIMATE.
THIS IS THE AÇAÍ AS THEY DRINK IT.
OKAY, THIS IS THE AÇAÍ.
THEY DRINK IT.
OKAY.
THEY DRINK IT IN A BOWL AND IT'S VERY THICK.
IT'S NOT LIKE A WATERY JUICE.
OKAY.
I EAT IT WITH A LOT OF SUGAR.
I DON'T PUT THE FRIED FISH BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THEY...
THERE WE GO.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL AÇAÍ.
THEY PUT IT WITH ICE IN THE BOTTOM.
IF IT WAS FOR ME I WAS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF SUGAR.
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY BLAND.
VERY BLAND, YEAH.
IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FLAVOR.
I CAN TASTE THE VITAMIN C IN IT.
BUT IT HAS A LOT OF OTHER STUFF TOO, IRON, VITAMIN C. ANTIOXIDANTS.
IT MAKES YOU YOUNGER.
WELL, YOU CAN TELL BY THE COLOR.
AFTER THIS YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A HAMMOCK AND AT LEAST THREE HOURS.
OKAY, YOU FIX UP THE HAMMOCK, I'LL PROVIDE YOU THREE HOURS.
I HAVE TO GET CHAGO TO SHOW ME AROUND THE MARKET IN BELEM.
I DON'T RECOGNIZE HALF THE STUFF HERE.
WHAT IS THIS?
THIS IS PUEUNHA.
SOMETIMES THEY COME IN RED AND GREEN AND YELLOW.
BUT IT'S MORE LIKE A POTATO.
MORE LIKE A POTATO AND THEY ACTUALLY BOIL IT.
HERE'S THE BRAZIL NUT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT.
OH, THE BRAZIL NUTS, YES, YES, YES.
I'VE SEEN THESE.
YOU'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE?
OH, YEAH.
THESE ARE WHAT THE RIBEREÑOS BRING IN.
THEY BRING THIS, THIS IS THE PRODUCT AND THE TREAT.
YOU CAN TELL IT'S GOT SOMETHING INSIDE OF THE HUSK.
THESE ARE INSIDE.
SO THESE ARE WHAT THE MONKEYS ARE TRYING TO GET.
BUT THIS THING IS HARD AS A ROCK.
RIGHT.
THAT'S WHY THEY UNSCREW THIS FROM THE TREE AND THEY LET IT DROP.
IT FALLS TO THE GROUND AND THEY CAN GET TO THE NUTS INSIDE.
WELL, HOW DO THEY OPEN THE NUTS?
THEY USE THEIR MONKEY TO BREAK IT.
AND SO THE FINAL PRODUCT AND THIS IS THE BRAZIL NUTS.
YES.
THOSE ARE BIREBAS.
THIS IS CALLED BACURI.
THIS I HAVE TO ASK.
YOU DON'T KNOW EITHER.
MOST OF THE STRANGE FRUITS HERE COME FROM UP RIVER AND SOME OF THEM ARE SO EXOTIC THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE ALL THEIR LIVES IN THE CITY OF BELEM DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS CALLED INGA.
INGA.
I'M NOT SURE I RECOMMEND THIS.
IT TASTES VERY MUCH LIKE THE LAST NEWSPAPER THAT I ATE.
IT'S CALLED CUPUACU.
CUPUACU.
THIS IS NAJA.
YOU DON'T NEED TO COOK IT.
AND THIS PUPUNHA.
PUPUNHA IS THE FRUIT THAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO COOK.
I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT THIS IS THE MANIOC ROOT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
SOMEBODY WAS REALLY SMART WHO FIGURED OUT THEY COULD TAKE A POISONOUS ROOT, COOK IT AND MAKE IT INTO A BASIC STARCH FOR ALL OF THE CONTINENT.
THIS IS TUCUPI.
IT'S THE LIQUID YOU GET WHEN YOU SQUEEZE MANIOC.
CAN YOU DRINK IT AS IT IS?
YOU COULD BUT IT'S VERY SOUR.
THEY COOK WITH THIS.
OKAY, THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO SHOW YOU.
THESE ARE THE LEAVES OF THE MANIOC.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
TOUCH IT.
YOU CAN TOUCH IT.
YEAH.
NOW THESE ARE POISONOUS AS THEY ARE.
AS THEY ARE.
OKAY.
NOW THE INCAS CAME UP WITH THIS DISH THAT YOU GRIND THIS HERE TO MY LEFT INTO THIS PASTE AND THEY HAVE TO COOK IT FOR SEVEN DAYS.
NON-STOP, SEVEN DAYS?
NON-STOP, OTHERWISE IT'S POISONOUS.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE BOAT OWNERS.
THEY DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THE MARKET HERE.
THEY PARK THEIR BOAT, THEY COME LOADED WITH THE FISH.
THEY PUT THEIR LITTLE STOOLS HERE AND THEY SELL THEIR FISH.
SO THIS IS INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE.
THERE'S NO MIDDLE MAN.
THERE IS NO MIDDLE MAN.
THE RESTAURANT OWNERS STOP BY WITH THEIR VANS HERE AND BUY THEIR FISH AND TAKE IT TO THEIR KITCHENS.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE ALL THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FISH HERE?
MOST OF THEM.
EVEN THOUGH I'M FROM THE AREA, EVERY NOW AND THEN I SEE, OH, THAT'S A COOL LOOKING FISH AND I REALIZE I DON'T KNOW THE NAME AND I HAVE TO ASK.
THE BOATS COME IN WITH THE FISH, THEY PUT THE FISH IN THE SCALE AND THEY ACTUALLY VER-O-PESO, THEY SEE THE WEIGHT.
ONCE THEY SEE THE WEIGHT, THEY CAN SELL THE AMOUNT.
[MUSIC] THIS IMAGE HERE, YOU SEE THIS OLDER GENTLEMAN, THIS IS THE PROTECTOR OF BELEM, AND ALSO SENHORA DE NAZARÉ.
IT'S A SHRINE.
THE LADY OF THE NAZARENE, HUH?
YES.
AND THE PEOPLE HERE BELIEVE, THEY PUT THE IMAGE RIGHT BY THIS, WHAT DO YOU SEE OVER THERE?
THE SCALE, HUH.
THESE GUYS HERE PRAY IN FRONT OF THE SHRINE IN HOPE THAT GOOD BUSINESS, GOOD FISH COME THEIR WAY.
THOSE ARE BIG, YES, BUT YET JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THEY USED TO BE THREE TO FOUR TIMES BIGGER.
WITH OVER FISHING THEY GET SMALLER AND SMALLER.
THIS IS FILHOTE, LOOK AT THE MOUTH.
IT'S AN OVERGROWN, OVER 200 KILOS FISH.
IN FRESH WATER.
THE LOCALS HERE SAY THAT THEY SWALLOW LITTLE KIDS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
YEAH, I CAN BELIEVE IT.
THE RIVER IS SO WIDE.
I WOULD SAY IT GOES 50 MILES IN THE ATLANTIC.
IF YOU THINK IT CAME HERE FROM ABOVE, YOU CAN SEE THE BIG BROWN SPOTS STAINING THE OCEAN.
AND THAT'S STILL THE AMAZON.
THAT IS THE AMAZON.
THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR PILGRIMAGE I HAVE TO MAKE BEFORE LEAVING BELEM, VISIT THE FAMOUS PARROT ISLAND.
MY BIRD WATCHING FRIENDS WILL STRING ME UP IF I DON'T.
THERE ARE PROBABLY 10,000 PARROTS WHO COME HERE TO NEST EVERY NIGHT.
THEY LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING, JUST BEFORE SUNRISE, AND COME HOME JUST AT SUNSET.
THE NOISE IS DEAFENING, YET PEOPLE STILL LIVE ON THE ISLAND.
THE FLOCKING BEHAVIOR THAT THEY SHOW IS A BIT OF A MYSTERY AND WHY THEY CHOOSE THIS PARTICULAR PLACE IS EQUALLY UNKNOWN BUT IT'S BECOME QUITE A TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR THE BELEM AREA AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR PARROTS, THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME.
PARROTS HAVE EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
THEY ALSO ARE EXPERT FORAGERS AND THEY HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE KILOMETERS OF FOREST ALONG WHICH TO FLY AND FIND THE FRUITS THAT THEY LIKE THE MOST.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF YEAR SOME TREE OR PLANT IS IN FRUIT PRODUCTION AND THE PARROTS ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.
I HAD A FEW DOZEN MORE PLACES I WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT BUT MY FLIGHT OUT OF BELEM WOULDN'T WAIT.
THE BIG CITY SEEMS TOO LARGE TO LET THE RIVER PEOPLE ALONE VERY MUCH LONGER.
I'M GLAD I SAW THEM WHEN I DID.
100 YEARS AGO NORTHERN GUATEMALA WAS A TRACKLESS JUNGLE WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS.
2,000 YEARS AGO NORTHERN GUATEMALA WAS THE POWER CENTER OF MAYA CIVILIZATION AND SUPPORTED A LARGE ENERGETIC POPULATION OF ARCHITECTS, STONE MASONS, ENGINEERS, MERCHANTS AND WARRING KINGS.
JOIN US NEXT TIME IN THE AMERICAS WITH ME, DAVID YETMAN.
IT'S THE AMAZON PEACOCK FEST.
IT LOOKS LIKE A PEACOCK, IT'S GOT THAT...
YES, YOU CAN SEE THE EYE IN THERE.
IN THE OLD DAYS THEY HAD NO SCALES OVER THERE SO THEY WOULD BRING THEIR FISH, LET'S SEE HOW MUCH IT WEIGHS SO THEY COULD SELL... THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS, VER-O-PESO.
LET'S SEE THE WEIGHT.
MOSTLY THEY DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY IN THEIR HUTS SO THEY HAVE TO SALT, THEY HAVE TO SALT THE FISH TO KIND OF PRESERVE THE MEAT.
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