That mires are as dangerous as they are hardly stops intrepid sportsmen from braving them for trophies. The massive cephalopods that dwell in the liquid sand are considered a test of one’s courage and tactical skill, and teams of hunters camped at the edge of the silt, drawing their plans by sunset camp fire while waiting for the creatures to appear, are a common sight. Some of Erj’s poorer settlements, in desperate times, even rely on these hunts to feed the community.

These are increasingly desperate times.