The Third Part of the Advent Riddle: Where is the Brave Indian Boy Sleeping?
We owe a fruit that protects against demons to this Indian boy (Illustration: Andreas Lechner)
24 December 2012
Christmas is coming – time for our fourth fairy tale riddle: An Indian boy gets lost in the forest, where he is visited by a demon. The boy’s legacy is a special fruit. If you can guess what country is familiar with this tale, you will receive a New Year’s greeting from there.
How Guarana Became an Invigorating Beverage
Aguiry was the jolliest boy in his tribe. He ate only fruit and that, the people supposed, was the reason he was always in a happy mood. Every day, Aguiry went into the forest and returned with a basket full of fruit, which he handed out to his friends so that they, too, would be happy.
One day, Aguiry ventured too far from his village and got lost in the forest. When night fell, the boy had no other choice but to build himself a bed of leaves and wait for day to break. He comforted himself with the thought that his basket of fruit would keep him from dying of thirst and hunger. Yet, he had not reckoned with Jurupari, the demon of darkness, who appeared in the shape of a bird and loved sweet fruits above all else.
Jurupari attacked the boy with his sharp claws and his powerful curved beak and killed him in order to steal his fruit. In the meantime, Aguiry’s family and friends were greatly apprehensive when the boy did not return home. The next morning they set out, and, after searching anxiously for him, found him lying dead beside his empty fruit basket.
At the behest of their benevolent god Tupã, the Indians buried Aguiry’s eyes under a tree that had been withered for many years. Every day, a delegation from the tribe came to the tree to mourn the boy. Lo and behold, soon the withered tree sprouted new leaves, as if the tears they wept had given it new life. And the next spring, the tree bore fruits that the Indians had never seen before: They were red with a dark core that reminded them of Aguiry’s eyes.
Now, Tupã told them that the fruit was called guarana and that it could be eaten. It had to be dried, grated and mixed with water, and then it would be good all year round. Soon, the people noticed that guarana, enjoyed in moderation, healed all sorts of ailments and kept tired people awake. Since then, every Indian carries guarana when they must spend the night in the forest. Then the demon has no chance of surprising sleepy humans in their sleep.
Aguiry was the jolliest boy in his tribe. He ate only fruit and that, the people supposed, was the reason he was always in a happy mood. Every day, Aguiry went into the forest and returned with a basket full of fruit, which he handed out to his friends so that they, too, would be happy.
One day, Aguiry ventured too far from his village and got lost in the forest. When night fell, the boy had no other choice but to build himself a bed of leaves and wait for day to break. He comforted himself with the thought that his basket of fruit would keep him from dying of thirst and hunger. Yet, he had not reckoned with Jurupari, the demon of darkness, who appeared in the shape of a bird and loved sweet fruits above all else.
Jurupari attacked the boy with his sharp claws and his powerful curved beak and killed him in order to steal his fruit. In the meantime, Aguiry’s family and friends were greatly apprehensive when the boy did not return home. The next morning they set out, and, after searching anxiously for him, found him lying dead beside his empty fruit basket.
At the behest of their benevolent god Tupã, the Indians buried Aguiry’s eyes under a tree that had been withered for many years. Every day, a delegation from the tribe came to the tree to mourn the boy. Lo and behold, soon the withered tree sprouted new leaves, as if the tears they wept had given it new life. And the next spring, the tree bore fruits that the Indians had never seen before: They were red with a dark core that reminded them of Aguiry’s eyes.
Now, Tupã told them that the fruit was called guarana and that it could be eaten. It had to be dried, grated and mixed with water, and then it would be good all year round. Soon, the people noticed that guarana, enjoyed in moderation, healed all sorts of ailments and kept tired people awake. Since then, every Indian carries guarana when they must spend the night in the forest. Then the demon has no chance of surprising sleepy humans in their sleep.
You will find out the solution next week. Until then you can submit your answer. The country that our brave Indian boy comes from does not have eyes like fruit, but it does have a name that comes from a botanical term.
The tale for the third of Advent came from Kenya.
But, back to today’s story: Can you tell us what country the boy came from who saved his tribe from the threat of nightly demonic attacks?
This riddle is already ended. The correct answer was: Brazil. The country is named after the brazilwood tree, which was once widespread in the forests along the coast. The story is from the book Märchen und Mythen der brasilianischen Indianer, published in 1988 by Kohlhammer & Wallishauser Verlag.
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