Side Necked Turtles
John Hemming in Tree of Rivers cites Alexander von Humboldt as he floated down the Orinoco River (in Colombia) on this very sight. It was 200 years ago. Humboldt describes the turtles this way: 8 to 10 rows of turtles, side by side, covering the river banks. Humboldt is horrified at the Franciscan friars, who plunder every nest for oil-rich eggs used in turn for street lighting.
The Jesuit friars did the same, although they at least left half the eggs. Humboldt copies register from the lamp oil supply chain: 5000 massive jars of oil a year from 330 thousand turtles and 33 million eggs.
The Amazon is an extraordinary place as is. And yet, no place deserves the slogan «Let’s make America great again», as much as the Amazon.
by Kurt Holle