The Legend of Amatuk

Many Amerindian names contain the syllable – tuk. Tuk, in the language of the ancient tribe of the Patamona, is the name for ‘fall’ or ‘waterfall’. Names that end or begin with -tuk are scattered in the vicinity of waterfalls like soft blossoms: Pakatuk, Waratuk and Tukeit are all lovely stretches of clear water tumbling and flowing in confusion over gigantic boulders and islands of rocks, scattered in the rivers. They are survivors of some upheaval in the earth’s crust in the morning of time.

Amatuk, the fall of love, is a very special waterfall. Lower down the course of the river, closer to its mouth, where mountains replace the low hills and the course of water enters a different world, two conically-shaped mountains flank a pretty waterfall, some forty feet in height. This is Amatuk, the fall with a story of love. Long ago, so runs an ancient Indian legend, there lived a beautiful Patamona maiden who was beloved by twins both strong and brave, silent of foot and keen of eye. None could turn the bow better than they.

But one day a warrior came from another tribe, this warrior lusted after the maiden and desired her. She fled from his advances. As she ran she cried out, ‘Save me, save me!’ A deer, grazing nearby, heard her cry and rushed to the twins, telling them:
‘Hasten after me and save your beloved.’ The twins immediately left what they were doing and followed the deer, running through the forest towards the river.

At a bend in the river, at the foot of a steep bank, the deer stopped. Looking upwards, following the deer’s gaze, the twins saw the maiden standing on the bank, As they looked, they saw the warrior appearing and seizing the maiden with his strong arms, trying to take her away. Crying out to the twins and the Winds of Heaven the maiden struggled and fought. Her cry was heard and the spirits of the forest touched her with their breath and changed her from her humanly form into a pretty waterfall tumbling down the river bank. Upon seeing this, the twins were broken-hearted and would not be comforted.

They besought the spirits of the forest to let them stay by their beloved. Their quest was granted. The spirits touched them - first one twin and then the other - and immediately they turned into two mountains, flanking either side of the waterfall, where they stand up to this day.” The warrior was changed into a big rock over which the fall cascades in its descent to the river below.”

Amatuk Rainforest Camp