European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 05, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse The stars and stripes tuesday november 5, 1985 a plea to the gods in brazilian Jungle by Bryna Brennan associated press t he wails of mourners intertwined wit the ancient chants of the Krarup ceremony piercing the Damp Jungle air with a plea tothe gods for the souls of the dead at the Yawn Lapioli Indian Village in Brazil. It was a plea. Too. For understanding for the soul of a culture. The indians gathering before decorated and painted tree trunks said to contain the souls of those who died during the year broke a longstanding taboo by inviting outsiders to come to photograph and to interview. We opened this to the Public because we Don t want others to speak Lor us anymore no anthropologists not government workers said Marcos Terena. A native brazilian who Heads the Indian affairs department of Brazil s culture ministry. We want to show the world that we Are human. We want to forge a new relationship with the new a civilian administration took Over last March alter 21 years of Rule by military backed regimes that often ignored Indian problems. We want to explain our Terena emphasized and not have others do this Lor us Mot of Brazil s 220,000 indians live in isolated areas and Only a Lew visitors have been permitted Bathe government. Roughly 1 00 people including journalists and Lour Cabinet ministers flew to the Xingu Indian reservation about 500 a Niles from the Inland capital of Brasilia to attend the Krarup ritual. Some 1 .000 indians irom nine tribes representing Lour language groups took part legends Tell that Mav Tusim. Creator of the Indian world staged the first Krarup to resurrect the dead by chanting in front of logs adorned to represent the v deceased. He warned that no one must look on his d a Lon some of the tribes living at the headwaters of the Xingu , an Amazon tributary still follow the two week r,.ual, which ends , the trunks be no ,05 de into the to free the souls of the dead. Chiel Ritana head of the 1 10-stronq Yaw Alamiri tribe stood in the Dusty Center of the Village ,0 two members of the a Walaiti Indian tribe Lake port in a sluts dance. I Holch wigwams and looked at the Progress being made on the six trunks representing this year s dead including one Tor Hir. 2-month-old daughter. Each was painted with a Black and White design. Red was put on the two logs that symbolized females. A s strange to have Whites Here said Arionna 35, using a Lerm which refers to anyone who is not an Indian i con Only Hope that the Whites understand that this is a respectful ceremony Lor our a foreign anthropologist snapped pictures of the photographers and television Crews setting up lights recording and interviewing the indians who spoke portuguese Brazil s language. The indians move Between two worlds going naked in their villages but donning jeans or Cotton dresses to visit the Bureau of Indian affairs Post. Their diet is traditional Corn Rice Beans monkeys and fish but entertainment comes by radio and several indians wore watches. Several of the Indian leaders travel frequently to Bra in via government planes to lobby for Indian needs Medicine More teachers fish Hooks clothes. The Indian seemed undaunted by inc outsiders naked except Tor feathers and Cord wrappings the men painted their bodies and hair with a deep Orange fruit Dye. Elaborate Black designs were carefully applied from head to toe. All the male tribesmen had returned two Days earlier from a nine Day trip to catch fish to feed their visitors. Messengers called alerted the tribes that the Krarup was to begin. Indians said to have Noble descendants played Large hand carved wooden flutes. This is to please the spirits Ritana said. As the stilling Sun set. The sacred part of the ritual began. The immediate family of the dead were seated by the stumps. Elder tribesmen chanted and Shook maracas tropical rattles. Fires were lighted and the relatives began the wailing that continued like the chanting until Dawn in the morning tribal leaders fought would be leaders in Hula Hula wrestling matches which Are also an emotional release after the nigh Long death riles. Free for All matches were held to the cheers and hoots of friends and relatives. Mothers and wives berated or praised husbands and sons. Before the logs were tossed into the marking an end to the ritual three girls who had been in seclusion for a year were taken around the Village by the elders signalling their availability Tor marriage they offered nuts to the tribal chiefs. Blue rope tied at the Ankles and below the Knees was removed leaving grossly swollen calves. Grifana said the Leas had been tied to make them stronger Interior minister Ronaldo Costa Couto. Who attended a a c a a Crerar strapped trea me " " T pm the indians Indian arrive by Bierce of
