aracu's

Updated: May 6, 2025

One of these pajes was sent for by a woman in John Aracu's family, to operate on a child who suffered much from pains in the head. Senor John contrived to get possession of the supposed worm after the trick was performed in our presence, and it turned out to be a long white airroot of some plant. The paje was with difficulty persuaded to operate while Senor John and I were present.

Henry Walter Bates - The Naturalist on the River Amazons

A small creek traversed the forest behind John Aracu's house, and entered the river a few yards from our anchoring place; I used to cross it twice a day, on going and returning from my hunting ground. One day early in September, I noticed that the water was two or three inches higher in the afternoon than it had been in the morning.

Henry Walter Bates - The Naturalist on the River Amazons

I could bear scarcely any clothes in the daytime between eleven in the morning and five in the afternoon, wearing nothing but loose and thin cotton trousers and a light straw hat, and could not be accommodated in John Aracu's house, as it was a small one and full of noisy children. One night we had a terrific storm.

Henry Walter Bates - The Naturalist on the River Amazons

The forest was not crowded with underwood, and pathways led through it for many miles and in various directions. I could make no use here of our two men as hunters, so, to keep them employed while Jose and I worked daily in the woods, I set them to make a montaria under John Aracu's directions.

Henry Walter Bates - The Naturalist on the River Amazons