Slowly, carefully, Josue climbs the thin branches of small shrub under water. He points his stick up. After a fixed rope in a circle. With it tries to embrace the huge neck of a yellow snake with green spots. It is done. All smiles, he spent the snake around his own head and down into the boat. The visitors, who did not miss a beat of the operation, shout of fear and admiration. Those who have the courage boa caress the skin and take in hand. "But how you saw it? "," How did you do to get it? "They ask. Josue shrugs. Before, he was afraid of snakes. Now, strength train to catch, he took the habit.
It's been 6 years that Josue Crosa works as a guide in the jungle. Crosa in the family, they all came one after another to try their luck. Damion, big brother, first. Then Josuel and Josue. And even the little sister of 20 years, Janete, made his debut a few months. Damion arrived in Manaus homeless and without a contract. He had been staying with a friend when he was trained. Several days in the jungle with an experienced guide. He and his brothers are from Guyana, British Guiana, just on the northern border with Brésil.Ils grew up in wooden huts in the middle of the forest. While the jungle, they know. But the profession requires real expertise and is not safe. You should know take groups fishing for piranhas, namely dropping the hook to the jaw without being bitten. Gavin a day, the last of the brothers who gave it a try, made himself take a piece of flesh on the index. They should know locate and catch alligators at night. In this game, it's Janete which is made take. She had banged her leg with sharp teeth. Tarantulas out of their hole, spot birds, sloths, build a camp, it's part of the function. The days are continuous, with groups of five to eight tourists seeking guides 24 hours 24.
For this, they are paid 100 reais day by agencies that employ them. "It's always better than working at the mine," says Josue. At home, in Guyana, the main activity for men is drilling in the gold mines for many operating companies in the mountains. They leave their wives and children for weeks to earn barely enough to survive a few months after their return. So this work is a real chance to get out a little better. And many Guyanese to plunge.
"Aim it's a lot of fun! "Says Billy, who never leaves his mischievous smile. For him, it is a pleasure, he likes it. This Guyanese arrived there thirty years. He even created his own company that makes it a much more advantageous margin. He bought his own boat for tourists stroll. He has yet to fulfill the charge to rent rooms in one of the camps set up in the jungle, dedicated to welcoming these groups. With a rate of 180 to 200 reais per person per day, the account is quick. Besides the almost systematic payment delays in the agencies.
"But it's a hard life," hue Anselmo. A native of Manaus, he started around the same time as Billy, he is one of the elders. His specialty fluency in foreign languages. He speaks fluent English, French, Spanish, some German and Italian. "I met an English and we got married, he says, we even had a child. But she could not bear these living conditions. I was always absent, working in the jungle." He explains that many other guides have known this.
Many of them end up before the windows of the covered agencies mouthwatering photos, with colorful animals and tourists happy. They expect the work, or expect their pay. Or they come back to the city, returning from a mission few days. So they drink it together, to decompress, even spend the night and leave their salary.
Magno returned from a ten-day session. "I am exhausted, he confesses, I will take a few days off." Brazilian, he came from El Salvador when he heard about this job opportunity. "I did computer studies but I did not rivals to find a job at home."
He greets Billy, who leaves with a German group. "Alles gut! , "He says to the girls bent with laughter. He explains the program tonight, they will look for caimans at night and in the morning, standing at 5 in the morning to watch the sunrise. "You'll see, it's wunderbar! ".