A Communistic Native Tribe

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 89, 7 March 1941, Page 5

A Communistic Native Tribe

HERE is something fascinating in travel-in the wild lands of South America,’ especially in the jungle lands bordering the river Amazon in Brazil, and when it is a one-man expedition, it is. even moré interesting. Harold Noice tells in his book "Back of Beyond" how he obtained a job with the Pathé Film Company and later on went to Brazil, principally to film the native life in this untamed land. This meant, of course, a long journey of some thousand miles up the Amazon accompanied by a native guide, Pedro. Penetrating the Brazilian jungle is an ordeal in itself. Clearing the network of vines, tree roots and vegetable growths, is no easy job, states the author, and so rapid is the growth that the pathway is soon covered and the track obliterated. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this book is that dealing with the savages themselves, the Tariano Indians. These tribés live together under one roof, a huge house known as a Moloka, housing them all, men, women and children. Pedro and Noice paid a visit to the chief tribe and stayed in the Moloka, so were enabled to observe tribal customs of many kinds. A truly communistic people these. There is no waste, there is never any accumu- . lation of food, for all food is shared. All the hard work is done by the women, the men doing the hunting and fishing, and the fighting when necessary. The film camera caused much excitement and at one time when some magnesium flares exploded it was necessary to make a hasty retreat. These superstitious people imagined this to be an evil spirit at work. I do not think that I have read a more interesting book than this one for its description of wild jungle life, native life and tribal customs, and river life. The author possesses that happy knack of telling a. good story-(Book Review, 3YA, January 21.)