Tribe That Hides from Man [Paperback]

Adrian Cowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1977

The first paperback edition of a title originally published in 1973, describing the author's attempts to make contact with the Kreen-Akore - the most ferocious and elusive Amazon tribe to inhabit the rainforest. Includes a new introduction and epilogue.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Stein & Day Pub (June 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812822528
• ISBN-13: 978-0812822526
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,797,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First book that got me interested in the indians of the Amazon, November 10, 2006

By 

Mr. James A. Newton (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tribe That Hides from Man (Paperback)

The first edition of the actual 'Tribe That Hides From Man' book appeared in 1973 and I don't believe it was ever re-issued until 1995. I first picked up the book from my local library which I guess must have been some time in the early 1980's. It was the seminal book that along with 'The Savage My Kinsman' stimulated my interest in the indigenous peoples of South America, but particularly the Amazon Basin.

The book starts with an excellent prologue that touches upon what at that time had been a major scandal that had received worldwide coverage: that of the corruption, brutality and mis-management of Brazils' SPI (Indian Protection Service). The service that had been charged in 1911 in protecting the indigenous peoples of Brazil from the advancing frontier had in fact been colluding in the dispossession and extermination of the indian tribes.

The book then goes on to give an interesting account of the work of the Villas Boas brothers and the Xingu National Park - a reserve for the sole use of 15 native nations. The Xingu Park was at that time 'a shining beacon of hope' in terms of Brazils' indigenous policy. It was the only place in Brazil where the population of a whole group of tribes was not in decline and actually increasing. The book covers the authors experience in the Xingu, among the native people, set amidst a background of inter-tribal feuding and acclimitisation to modern Brazillian society.

This all serves as a good backdrop to the main part of the book which covers the attempts of the Villas Boas to make contact and peace with a hitherto 'hostile' tribe - the Kreen Akrore. It was deemed prudent to make contact with the Kreen Akrore as two National Highways were planned to cross their lands. The story relates the work of the expedition to make contact, and accurately sets it against the history of contacting isolated indians in Brazil. Adrian Cowell creates the feelings of claustrophobia and fear of the unknown faced by the members of the expedition and almost certainly by the Kreen Akrore.

The book covers two years between 1967 and 1969, by which time contact with the Kreen Akrore still has not been achieved. There are some great appendicies to this book and one of them covers in (very) brief the ultimate contact with the Kreen Akrore in 1973. In the 1995 edition the anthropolgist Stephen Schwartzmann provides a more detailed epilogue that covers to a greater depth the experience and reactions of the Kreen Akrore at the time of the contact expeditions, it answers some of the questions posed in the 1973 edition and the ultimate fate of the Kreen Akrore. the story is also comprehensively covered in the chapter 'Panara' in John Hemming's 'Die if You Must'.

A great read, part travelogue, part anthropological study, part work of modern history. Clearly written and meticulously detailed and annotated.