71 Don’t Touch My Tree
Não toque na minha árvore
Manaus |
Brésil
Portuguese
Behind the scenes
Manaus is a large city located in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, at the meeting point of the Rio Negro and the Amazon River. Originally founded for military purposes, it later developed through trade, particularly during the rubber boom.
But stepping outside the city is enough to find yourself immediately immersed in a dense and ever-present natural environment.
This story was inspired by encounters on site, where I was told how certain essential ecosystems often remain invisible. I heard, for example, about loggers being attacked by swarms of mosquitoes after cutting down trees that had sheltered their habitat.
In the forest, every living being plays a role. Even the smallest can help protect a balance on which everything else depends.
Echoes of the world
Several words in the text come from Indigenous Amazonian languages, which have deeply influenced the Portuguese spoken in Brazil.
The name of the city, Manaus, comes from the Manaós people, who lived in this region before the arrival of Europeans.
The word igarapé, meaning a small waterway or creek, comes from Tupi: ygara (“canoe”) and apé (“path”).
The small monkey mentioned in the text, the sagui, also takes its name from an Indigenous language.
As for the samaúma, a giant tree of the Amazon rainforest, it is often considered by local peoples to be one of the living pillars of the forest.
And you, which words from other languages or regional dialects do you know?
To reflect and capture your thoughts, turn to the dedicated pages in the book.
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