Peru: In Tropical Lands with Iain Sinclair
A father/daughter journey into the Amazon. I have always been haunted by my great great grandfather Arthur Sinclair. These podcasts are the story of a journey to the Peruvian Amazon with my father, retracing Arthur's steps and his expedition of 1891. This journey inspired Iain Sinclair's book, "The Gold Machine" and Grant Gee's film of the same name. These are the conversations we had along the way, with each other and those we met, as we discovered the forgotten legacy of the British Peruvian Corporation, and heard first hand from the Asheninka tribes who live there still. Sometimes the past is a place you can visit. First episode to be uploaded on 2nd September. Edited by Anonymous Bosch
Peru: In Tropical Lands with Iain Sinclair
Episode 6 Pampa Michi and Marankiari with the Asheninka
Joined by a small family of Asheninka translators, Farne and Iain drive along the banks of the River Perene to the village of Pampa Michi, amongst the tourist welcome, they persuade the chief Fredi Miguel Ucayali to be interviewed. His is a sobering account of the Peru Corporation’s takeover of these lands which is shocking to hear first-hand.
In Marankiari they stay with the Asheninka for a few days and feel they get a bit closer to life behind the scenes of the village, they talk to Berta Rodriguez, the mother of the chief, who at 80 years old can remember the old Asheninka beliefs.
They celebrate Farne’s birthday with the tribe, and share photographs of King Chokery and his Queen, and suddenly the pictures come alive with meaning.
The chief Osbaldo Rodriguez is able to shed some light on events from the past, and in return they are able to share copies of the original land contract.
Iain and Farne make it to the border town of Pichinaki to mull over events, and consider whether to travel on into the Whirlpool of the Dead.