Boto Legend

One of the legends about the Botos is that when a young girl meets a young boy at one of the june celebrations, their first experience is attributed to the boto. The belief is that, on the nights, when people are distracted by the celebrations, the pink Boto appears transformed into a very handsome man. But he is always wearing a hat, because his transformation is not complete, since his breathing hole is still at the top of his head. Like a gentleman, he flirts, enchanting the first pretty, young woman he sees, and takes her down to the river, leaving her pregnant, and never comes back again to see the girl. During there june celebrations if a man appears wearing a hat, people ask him to take it off to make sure he`s not a boto. And when a young girl gets pregnant, and community doesn`t knoe who the father is, usually people say that ``The fathe is the Boto´´.

The dolphin, called boto in Amazonia (the area around the Amazon River), comes in two colors, pink and black, each of one is a different specie with different habits and involved in different traditions. When traveling along the rivers, it's common to see a boto diving or rippling the waters far away. It's said that the black boto is friendly and helps saving people from drowning, but people say the pink one is dangerous. Being nearly blind, botos have a sophisticated sonar system that helps them sailing the muddy Amazon waters. After man, it is the major predator of fish.

Manioc Legend

A long time ago, the daughter of an Indian Tuxaua(chief) was expelled from her tribe and went to live in a n isolated old hut because she became pregnant in a mysterious way. Some distant relatives came to help her and bring her food. The Indian girl lived in this way until she give birth to a girl, a very white and pretty child, who she called Mani. The news of the litle girl birth spread among the Indians. Villages and caused the great Tuxaua to forget his pain and forgive the daughter. He came and acrossed the river to visit her. When mani turned 3 years old, she died in a mysterious way, without suffering any disease. Her mother was desilated and buried her daughter close to the house where she lived, letting fall her tears for a long time, Despite her tired eyes, she noticed that suddenly a little plant sprouted and grew rapidly. Everyone came to see the miracle of the new plant whose strong white roots were shaped like a horn. Everyone wanted to taste the plant to honor the departed child. Since then, this root has become a very welcome food and was called ´´Mandioca``. Nowardays the mandioc is the most important food in the region.

The manioc is a thick starchy root used to make a special kind of flour. Manioc is the daily food among natives of the Amazon region, used instead of or in addition to rice, potato or corn or as a side dish with fish, meat or beans. This root has a strong poison cynaide that needs to be eliminated during the preparation of the flour. This is done by cooking or fermenting the root. After it is ground, it is toasted and is ready for storage or use.

Pirarucu Legend

Pirarucu was an Indian who belonged to the UAIAS tribe and habited the land around the Lábrean plains in southwestern Amazon. He was brave but heartless warrior, even though Pindaro, his father and chief of the tribe, was a good man. Pirarucu was full of vanities, selfish and was excessively proud of his power.

While his father visited friend neighbour tribes, Pirarucu took advantage of his absence to take the village people hostage and execute them for any reason. He also criticized the gods. Tupã, the god of the gods, observed pirarucu for a long time until, tired of the man`s behavior, he decided to punish Pirarucu. Tupã called polo and demanded that he spread his most powerful lightening in the whole area. He also called Iururaruçu, the goddness of torrents, and demanded that she provoke the strongest pouring rain over Pirarucu, who was fishing along with other indians on the margins of the Tocantins River, and heard the voice and felt the hate of Tupã, he just ignored them with a laugh and crazy words. Then, Tupã send Xandoré, the demon that hates man, who threw lightenings and thunder that filled and cut the air with sparks. Pirarucu tried to scape, but while he was running, among the falling branches and trees, a lightening bolt sent by Xandoré, struck into the heart of the warrior who refused to ask for forgiveness. All of those whose were with Pirarucu ran inside the jungle in total frightness, while the body of Pirarucu, still alive, was taken to the depths of the Tocantins River and transformed into a giant and dark red fish. Pirarucu remained thare and for a longtime he was the terror of the region.

The Pirarucu is a very large Amazonian fish that can measure up to two meters long. Its scales are large and hard enough to be used as a nail files. They are often made into keychains and sold as souvenirs. Pirarucu flesh is tender and is used to make typical dish of the Amazon region. It may be prepared in several other ways. The fish often salted and dried in the sun. either fresh or dried it makes delicious recipes. The Pirarucu is not yet a species in extiction.

Vitoria Regia Legend

In ancient times, on the margins of the majestic Amazon river, a beautifull young woman of an indian tribe stayed for long hours, staring at the beauty of the white moon and the mystery of the stars.

As the scent of tropical night pulled at her dreams, the moon laid an intense light above the water, making Naia, the youngest of the tribe and a dreamer, climb a tree to try to touch the moon. She didn't succeed. The next day, the young indian climbed the distant hills to fell with her hands the smoothness of the moon, but again she failed. When she arrived at the top of the hill, the moon was so high that she returned to the tribe feeling disappointed and sad. She belived that the moon was a handsome warrior - Jaci, and dreamed about being the bride of this brave warrior. The following nights, Naia left the tribe hoping to fulfill her dream. She took the river trails to stare at the river's waters. Reflected in the water mirror, there was the full moon, resplendent, immense. Naia, in her innocence, thought the moon had come to bathe itself in the river and allow her to touch it. Naia dove into the deep waters and there disappeared forever. The moon, feeling pity for the young lost life, transformed Naia into a giant flower - the Vitoria Régia - with an inebrianting perfume and petals that spread on the water to receive the full light of the moon.

The Vitoria Régia is the largest water lily in the world, native from Amazon River basin. Its round leaves attain 2 m of diameter and have a pronounced up turned edge. When floating on the water, it can sustain heavy weights, such as small animals. When it blooms, its petals are white, often slight pink, with red rims.