top of page

Barbasco Kichwa Story

Barbasco Kichwa Story
In a Quichua version of the story a hunter was walking alone through the forest when he heard a particular tree frog called an atan (Shuar: kaka). This frog, which is generally heard only in old growth forest at night, has a loud a- rhythmic call which Runa men jokingly associate with the sound of a woman in the throws of sexual pleasure: “atan a-tán atán.” Hence the name of the frog atán. Hearing this sound the hunter jokingly calls on the atan to come down from the tree and make love with him. Later, as he again passed the tree on his way home he was startled to find a woman. “That woman was a beautiful woman, a good looking young woman.” The hunter was overcome with fear but she put him at ease, “You said to me ‘tan tan tan do me’ well now do me then.” After making love the woman turned back into the atan and climbed up the tree without letting go of his penis. When his penis stretched out tremendously the man panicked and cut it off with a machete. The pieces were eventually thrown into the various rivers where they became anacondas.

CONTACT  US   
 

cotococha.ec@gmail.com 

480.276.5913

ANDES AND AMAZON FIELD SCHOOL

Sponsored by Title VI National Resource Centers at University of Wisconsin Madison, the University of Florida, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Brigham Young University.

bottom of page