The Chuncho Indians of the Amazon River, Peru
The Chuncho Indians, about whom this film is built, were formerly the most savage of all the known tribes of South America. They inhabit the Perene Valley, which even at this late day is accessible only by mule back or pack train. Some twenty years ago an English syndicate purchased from the Government of Peru one million two hundred and fifty thousand acres of land in the most fertile districts of the great Perene Valley, and as a result great coffee plantations now grow where formerly there was nothing but dense tropical jungle. The Chuncho Indians through the invasion of their domain have been weaned from the pursuit of war, taught the value of a peaceful life and carefully trained in the art of coffee cultivation and harvesting, thus becoming useful members of the community. In our picture we see them on their way down the mountain on a pack train, passing along the narrow margin of difficult mountain trails, going through gorges of unusual tropical beauty and over the curious swinging bridges, which indeed swing so much that we are almost alarmed for the safety of the men and animals crossing them. After being shown the somewhat curious way in which coffee is cured and prepared for shipment, we now visit the Indian as he appears in more of his natural state. On very curious native boats, which seem so badly balanced that the least little false move would seem to throw one off his equilibrium so that one wonders how they manage to keep afloat at all. We see the Indians take their regular trips on the river, navigating their craft with a skill and grace that could not be surpassed in a boat built on the most scientific plan. Finally we land with the party and are shown a typical view of a Chuncho home, the father and mother surrounded by all the members of the family.
- 1910
- Documentary, Other
The Chuncho Indians, about whom this film is built, were formerly the most savage of all the known tribes of South America. They inhabit the Perene Valley, which even at this late day is accessible only by mule back or pack train. Some twenty years ago an English syndicate purchased from the Government of Peru one million two hundred and fifty thousand acres of land in the most fertile districts of the great Perene Valley, and as a result great coffee plantations now grow where formerly there was nothing but dense tropical jungle. The Chuncho Indians through the invasion of their domain have been weaned from the pursuit of war, taught the value of a peaceful life and carefully trained in the art of coffee cultivation and harvesting, thus becoming useful members of the community. In our picture we see them on their way down the mountain on a pack train, passing along the narrow margin of difficult mountain trails, going through gorges of unusual tropical beauty and over the curious swinging bridges, which indeed swing so much that we are almost alarmed for the safety of the men and animals crossing them. After being shown the somewhat curious way in which coffee is cured and prepared for shipment, we now visit the Indian as he appears in more of his natural state. On very curious native boats, which seem so badly balanced that the least little false move would seem to throw one off his equilibrium so that one wonders how they manage to keep afloat at all. We see the Indians take their regular trips on the river, navigating their craft with a skill and grace that could not be surpassed in a boat built on the most scientific plan. Finally we land with the party and are shown a typical view of a Chuncho home, the father and mother surrounded by all the members of the family.