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Natives Chambira
 
Picture of Indian girls preparing native chambira, a wild palm (Astrocaryum chambira) that is used for its fiber.  This native palm tree provides the fiber most commonly used by Indian girls to weave.  The newer leaves of the native chambira are used and are harvested either by climbing a tree next to the spiny palm or by cutting the palm tree down.  Typically, Indian men harvest the chambira palm leaves and the Indian girls carries it back home.   She peels off the top layer of the palm leaves and puts the fiber in the sun in order to dry.  After the fiber is dry, Indian girls roll the native chambira fiber along her thigh to make a twine.  The twine, which is quite strong, is then used to weave  hammocks, wrist ornaments ("pulseras"), tote bags, fishing line, and sometimes articles of clothing.  

 


 
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Photograph © Copyright 2007-2008 Jacek Palkiewicz,  all rights reserved
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