MyFather's Archives #24

This is my Mom in Kayapó-territory a few years after her retirement. It was the last time she visited her indigenous friends. Terrible pains in her back and legs prevented her from going back. 
She has recovered well from the incident on Wednesday and insists my Dad and I go ahead with our trip. We will be very close to this beautiful spot in a matter of only ten days. 

This picture was taken at the Smoke Falls. In 1935, the "Three Freds" (an Irish and two Australian missionaries - all named Fred) traveled from Belém, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Pará to Altamira, a small city located at the Xingú River. It took them four weeks to reach the outposts of civilization. They then proceeded by themselves, as the Brazilians were afraid of venturing into Kayapó-territory - a tribe of fearless warriors. When the three Freds reached these waterfalls they were attacked and killed by the Kayapós. 
As the last letters from the Freds show, they knew that they wouldn't be coming back. Here is a contemporary article from the Australian newspaper "Sidney Morning Herald" on that incident.
Times were different eight decades ago. Please be kind and generous with your judgements.