Jagua, A Journey into Body Art from the Amazon

In search of the fabled jagua fruit, Carine Fabius (author of MEHNDI: The Art of Henna Body Painting) takes readers on a journey into the deepest realms of the Amazon jungle, where a prized tattoo ink weaves magical tales into the heart and culture of the region's indigenous people. Inside you will find: 40 pages of gorgeous color photographs by Pascal Giacomini and noted documentary photographer and travel writer Cristina Mittermeier; over 25 black & white photographs and illustrations; the author's personal account of her and her artist/explorer husband's journey into the world of temporary body art, beginning with henna and culminating with the discovery of the jagua fruit's promise to deliver a beautiful tattoo that looks real yet fades after two weeks; excerpts from her husband Pascal Giacomini's diary as he travels on a motorized dugout canoe into the deepest reaches of the jungle, where he spends weeks with an indigenous group called the Matsés; brief histories of various indigenous groups associated with jagua; personal and insightful essays by veteran explorers and lovers of the Amazon; information on the medicinal and mystical properties of the jagua fruit; a brief history of tattoos; a short history of ink; frequently asked questions (and answers, of course!) about jagua tattoos; overview of the Amazon, the Indians that populate the area, and issues that currently dominate throughout the region; traditional tales from the Amazon