VILLAGERS

The desire for what is perceived to be a better life is one of the motives driving migration into large cities. People in the remote villages dream of a happier life in the city. When exposed to the dominant westernized culture, they realize something is missing—an abundance of material goods. Most village people do not have luxury goods such as televisions, computers, CD players and labor-saving devices.

People who live in remote villages have little opportunity to purchase modern goods. So when foreigners arrive, the children especially gather around in the hope of free gifts or of selling souvenirs (note carvings held by several children). Here are a couple of dozen children crowding around the tourist boat skiff.

Our modern world is largely a mystery to most people living in the Amazon. The tourist river boats visit certain villages weekly, but when an unexpected stop is made, half the village will turn out to take a look. The number of young children in the photo indicates the rapid population growth in the area; typical of developing countries.