#mombe

Before venturing up the Amazon to join the Matis People in Brazil, we spent two days preparing in Leticia, Colombia, training. During that time we hiked into the jungle and spent some time with a  Yacuna medicine man. During our visit with him, he and some of his tribesmen made mombe, a mixture of coca leaf and ash which is chewed much like tobacco. 

He also told us about his arduous training to become a shaman, which included years of education living an ascetic life.