HANNIBAL THE BOATMAN OF THE AMAZON
The amazon conjures up various images in the
mind of the European or their descendants in USA. It is painting of a savage on
to a landscape that is impenetrable and a group of people who live a very
innocent way of life.
Arent they cannibals there, someone had
enquired. In trying to explain the situation, one had to mention that the
boatman’s name is Hannibal, which emphasizes their belief in the savagery of
the Amazonians by thinking about Hannibal Lector.
I was quite impressed with Anibal, the
boatman who lives in Leticia and makes a living plying his boat on the river,
taking tourists to various destinations along the Amazonian river. He seems to
know Amazon well and also all the surrounding villages and the forest. He could
spot a baby sloth from at least a mile away, the Iguana had to be pointed out
to us, whereas Hannibal see it plainly as it were something normal for him. It
is something normal for an Indian living here, for him, the eye sight so acute
is an important asset to hunt the animals.
I had to go another Ticuna community, which
shuns visitors so the public transport does not stop there. I sought out Anibal
once again, and we planned a trip to the Ticuna community and afterwards to the
Yavary River passing by the towns of Islandia and Benjamin Constant and going
past to an area of pristine sand beaches as such beaches are not found along
the Amazon.
Unobtrusive, and stopping the boat when
something interesting happening in the river such as a pod of River Dolphins or
along the land, he would just carry on in silence.
His full name is Anibal Aspajo-Montes
His cellular phone in Leticia is 3132318678
If you want to go off the beaten track along the Amazon River, you can rely on Anibal
