Cambarysu

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A Cambarysu was an acoustic device used by the Catuquinaru Indians living in the Amazon region for communication over distances of up to 1.5 km.

Scheme of a Cambarysus.

functionality

The instrument consists of a hollowed-out palm tree trunk 1 m long, the ends of which are filled with sand and pieces of leather. The Cambarysu is set up in a locked house in a pit filled with pieces of wood. If the hollow of the trunk protruding from the pit is struck with a clapper, the impact noises generated in a specific code can only be heard within the Cambarysu houses up to 1.5 km away. The audio frequency generated with the noise is transmitted through the ground. The "counterpart" receiving the sound wave serves as a reinforcing resonance body and output medium. With this technology, messages could be transmitted quickly over long distances through settlements connected to Cambarysus without third parties gaining knowledge of it.

supporting documents

  1. ^ Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Volume 3. Leipzig 1905, p. 711 Online
  2. ^ The original of the telephone , Mataura Ensign , Issue 520, 13 December 1898, Page 4
  3. The papoose, Vol. I. No. 2. (January, 1903), A Brazilian collection, pp. 23-27