General Information and Explications of
Amazonian Indian Names and Expressions

and their meanings.

• QUARUP, a periodical fertility ceremony;
• U'YARA, Lady of the water;
• JACI, the Moon;
• ANHANGA, the Devil;
• OKA, Indians' typical dwelling;
• TAWA, an Indian settlement, a group of oaks;
• MIRIM , chief, little chief;
• WIRA'UNA, black bird;
• WIR'A, birds in general;
• WIRAPU'RU, an extraordinary Amazonian bird which sings wonderfully only fifteen days a year, while building its nest, for five to ten minutes at dawn; It is said that when the WIRAPU'RU sings, all the other birds fall silent to listen to it;
• UIRAPEQUI, new-born turtles;
• POROROKA, a prodigious and sudden wave resulting from the joining of the Amazon River and the sea as if the two were enacting a portentous fight;
• KAMAUYURA, shield; a round shield richly decorated from the Kamayura tribe;
• PIRARU'KU, a big red Amazonian fish, over 2 m (~ 6 feet) long and weighing about 80 kg (~ 170 lbs), with big and rough scales (used to do nails); its flesh is very much appreciated and its tongue is used to make the
• GUARANA, a stimulating drink.
  
  More on GUARANA:
  Guarana is very popular among people who need a healthy, but very energetic drink to cope with intense physical and intellectual activity.
  There is a whole industry based on guarana, that in its natural form is produced through modern methods such as stone grinding. (Note that there is also an Amazonian fish whose tongue is so sharp that the Indians use it as a natural grater. It is used, for instance, to grate the guarana fruit or, more specifically, its seeds.) 
  Guarana is a  vegetable (the fish tongue being just one of the primitive tools to work on it used by the Indians). Its scientific name is 'Paulinia cupana' and small portions of its powder can be diluted in liquids, such as hot or cold water, milk, yogurt and juices of all sorts. If taken some time before a meal -say half an hour - it can make you feel less hungry and help you reduce your food intake.
  
  There is also a soft drink made out of guarana syrup, which is really delightful, but which keeps very few of the properties found in the guarana powder as described above. It is widely consumed in the whole country of Brazil and it is produced by powerful companies, such as Brahma, Antarctica and Coca Cola.
  
• For the Indians, nature is a utility and medicine cabinet which they resort to whenever they need anything.
  

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