Hei tä bebi

"Hei tä bebi" (literally, "bottom layer") is the lowest of the four layers in the Ya̧nomamö cosmos. According to Ya̧nomamö tradition, "hei tä bebi" was created after the a piece of "hedu kä misi" (heaven) fell onto "Hei kä misi" (earth).Chagnon, "Ya̧nomamö", p. 100.; Wilson et al., [http://encarta.msn.com/text_701509044___2/native_americans_of_middle_and_south_america.html "Native Americans"] .] The falling piece of "hedu" knocked a hole into "hei kä misi", with the dislodged piece falling below formed "hei tä bebi".

When this fell through "hei kä misi" it took with it the garden and "shabono" (village) of Ama̧hiri-teri, but it did not take the surrounding jungle. As a result, the landscape of "Hei tä bebi" is barren and desolate. The people and village of Ama̧hiri-teri got trapped there, and as a result were forced to turn to cannibalism. Using their spiritual powers, they capture the souls of children from "hei kä misi" for food.

Notes

References

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External links

* [http://academic.udayton.edu/michaelbarnes/Rel198-03/Readings/chagnon.htm Chagnon, Napoleon A., "Yanomamö: The Last Days of Eden" (excerpts)]