Tonka bean stations: The Mapoyo and extractive economies of the Middle Orinoco, Venezuela

Abstract

The tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata), an aromatic seed used in the perfume industry, became the center of a commercial boom in the Middle Orinoco region of Venezuela as extractive economies became established in the Amazon (1870-1960). The commoditization of this and other forest products in this region allowed many indigenous groups to begin a new means of contact with global capitalism. However, details of tonka bean extraction and its impact on the native population's history are relatively unknown. The purpose of this article is to explore the key role of “tonka bean stations” in providing labor and raw materials for the extractive industry. Through the use of ethnographic and historical evidence, we will analyze the role of the tonka bean stations in the political economy and cultural history of the Middle Orinoco. Information derived from interviews and documents related to the Mapoyo indigenous group provides insight on topics such as labor mobilization, exchange, and consumption revolving around the tonka bean industry.