I arrived here when I was more or less 13 years old. I lived here alone with my mother. She didn't have any other children, well, there were actually two siblings, but my brother died.

I then got married, but stayed with my mother. Unfortunately she also died.

I have always worked, for 40 years now, since 1960, when I came here, on 10th October to be precise.

And I have been living here since 27th March 1961, the whole time. I have never left this place.

There are only rubber plantations here in this area. I also work on the Maniok field.

I don't plan to leave here.

We have a football pitch here, which many people

come to from the whole area, every Sunday. It is nice and happy.

I personally think everything here is beautiful, that's why I have no intention of leaving this place.

Told by Americo dos Santos in Aracuri at Rio Arrapiúns, on 20th September 2000.