Chopiri

Chopiri is situated fifteen miles from the border of the Hanzar jungle. It has recently been moved from several miles downriver because the gardens have stopped growing due to overuse. The circular structure of the shabon is still tightly woven with few leaks in the thatching. Life is good, there is a nearby stream for water, with the larger river three miles away filled with fish. The jungle is filled with animals like the mighty Jagun, Enta, and the chittering Monka.

Chopiri's population is roughly one hundred people, about twenty families. There are six elders of the village, all around or over the age of fifty. Krihisiwa is the oldest at sixty summers; most of the younger generation is related to him in some way.

Family Life

Girls are taught to cook and weave starting around 3 years old, while boys get to play for many years after. Young girls are married when they bloom, usually to a man many years older. They are expected to give their husband many children, often assisted by their husband's other wives.

Boys practice hunting with small spears and bows; they also practice stalking their prey by playing "hunter and jagun". When they turn 13, they join the older men in hunts while the women tend to their gardens and collect insects to supplement their mostly plant-based diet. The only times both men and women go out together is to gather fish and to harvest the pasegero fruit.

A Day in the life of Nato

Nato munches on fresh flat cake as he watches his father, Xanda, prepare his spear for the day's hunt.

"Be careful, son. Do not touch the curari." Xanda says as Nato hands him the pot of poison. Xanda packed the small pot into his basket nest to the pouch of darts.

Nato turns a the light footsteps of his mother, Yarima. She gives him a bright smile as she hands her husband a palm leaf packet of flat cakes. the packet is also tucked in the basket.

"Can I go with you this time, father? I want to take down a jagun!" Xanda laughs and tousles Nato's dark hair.

"When you are older, my son. Why don't you take your little spear and practice on the lizards."

Nato grumbles, but perks up when his uncle, Rafa, steps under their roof. Rafa also ruffles his hair and bends to catch little Dai, swinging her in the air before handing her to Yarima. Nato's cousin, Tinho, steps out from behind Rafa and grins at Nato. Xanda pushes him gently out into the plaza with Tinho. The two boys wave to their fathers and run to collect the other boys of the shabon. The ten boys split into two groups, hunters and jagun and begin chasing each other.

This time, Nato is a jagun, running from the hunters. He scurries up one of the poles of the shabon and waggles his fingers at Jomi, who came very close to catching him. Across the courtyard, he sees his mother and Jana, Xanda's second wife, leaving the family garden. Yarima sees him and calls for him. Groaning, he slides down the pole and goes to cross the plaza, but spies a large palm leaf on the ground. He calls for Tinho, who whoops in delight and sits on the leaf. Nato hauls his cousin across the plaza as fast as he can, grinning at the shouts behind him.

Yarima sighs at the antics of the two boys, but laughs all the same. She sets Nato to pounding the mandioc as Dai helps her peel it. After his chore is done, Nato grabs his spear and races off to the nearby trees, hunting lizards. He spears ten, a record for him!

It is past midday when the men come back. They carry three monkas, a giant tamadua, and an enta. There is no jagun this time, but their hunt has been successful in bringing meat home. Xanda hands his monka to Rafa, who takes it back to his own fire. The enta and tamadua are divided between the other men. The men do not eat their own kills, but give it to the others.

Nato hops from foot to foot as his father brings their family's share to the hearth. Yarima is already cooking the kupem and teranha. She claps in joy at the sight of the meat. Jana waddles from the garden carrying a basket of batat and mangas. She hands the basket to Dai and gratefully accepts Yarima's help in sitting down to the fire to begin preparing the manga fruit for soup. Xanda eyes his second wife carefully. Her time is nearly here and she is having more difficulty with this pregnancy than Yarima did with either child. The elders say the baby is not turned right and may need help turning when the time comes. Jana is young, only ten and four summers. Nato glances at her swollen belly but says nothing. It is not for boys to speak of babies.

As the men rest after their hunt, the women cook with the help of their daughters. Nato excitedly shows his father the lizards he caught and grins at Xanda's pride. Water drips over Xanda's hammock as a light rain falls, making him curse. After the rain, Nato will gather more palm leaves for his father to patch the hole with, but that is for later. Now, Nato whoops and hollers as he races into the rain to play with his friends.

After the rain and thatching, it is time for the final meal of the day. Soup and roasted meat is served in clay bowls. Nato uses flat cake to scoop the soup and belches as he finishes his meal, handing the bowl to Dai for cleaning before going over to Tinho's fire to brag about his lizards.

At the end of the day, feet dragging, Nato climbs into his hammock and falls asleep to the sound of his mother gently humming. Perhaps tomorrow his father will let him to hunting with him.

Government

The village is run by the village elders.

Defences

Spikes pointing outward surround the shabon.

Industry & Trade

The Hanzari of Chopiri create weaved baskets, some are more skilled at creating fine bows and arrows, many women create unique clay pots. Weaved vine hammocks with different patterns and colors are also popular.

Infrastructure

The family gardens are surrounded by vine fences.

Architecture

The shabon is a circular structure, made of wood poles and thatched roof with a large open plaza in the middle where the children play and the feasts are held.

Geography

Chopiri is situated in the jungle of Hanzar and is the closest village to Eirena.

Natural Resources

Wood is the most plentiful resource, with the nearby Estrenta river supplying fish and fresh water.

Type

Village

Population

100

Inhabitant Demonym

Hanzari