Tupi

“Tupi” is an umbrella term for a number of indigenous tribes that inhabited the Brazilian coastline. The various tribes formed two major groups after French and Portuguese colonists made contact with them: the Temiminó (which included the Maracajás tribe, who were led by the famous Araribóia); and the Tamoio (which included the Tupinambás tribe, who were led by the rather infamous Cunhambebe). One of the major sources we have on the Tupi people comes from Hans Staden, a German explorer who was captured and held hostage by Cunhambebe from 1552 CE to 1555 CE. After finally escaping and returning to Europe, he wrote about his experience living with the Tupi. Published in 1557, his book featured dozens of woodcuts illustrating his experience. This text, alongside other primary sources from Portuguese missionaries and explorers, provide valuable insights into Tupi culture.

The Tupi were exceptionally fierce warriors – Portuguese settlers commented that two or more of their men would have trouble facing one Tupi soldier. The Tupi utilized two major weapons: the bow and arrow, and the ibirapema, a unique wooden club. Tupi bows were usually made with blackwood and were larger than traditional European bows. They sometimes made flaming arrows by tying cotton to an arrowhead, dipping it in wax, and then igniting it. They also created poison arrows by using stingray spines as arrowheads. While Tupi bows were multifaceted weapons, used in warfare as well as hunting and fishing, the ibirapema was imbued with ceremonial significance. It was decorated with feathers and colorful paint, and used in ritual killings of enemies. The Tupi also deployed ibirapemas in close combat situations.

Because of their proximity to the ocean, the Tupi relied on marine life for food: they fished and hunted manatees in canoes, and gathered crabs, shrimp, and other shellfish in mangrove forests. Additionally, they practiced slash-and-burn agriculture and farmed maize, beans, and squash. While not as well known for their artwork, one artistic object that the Tupi highly valued were their ritual feather capes, which were created from scarlet ibis feathers. When the European colonists arrived, they were primarily interested in brazilwood as an export, which was used to dye fabrics.

Both the French and the Portuguese attempted to establish a foothold in the Guanabara Bay, near modern day Rio de Janeiro, in the late 16th century. The European colonists capitalized on longstanding rivalries between the Tupi tribes, each persuading some to fight on their behalf. The Temiminó tribes fought with the Portuguese, while the Tamoio fought with the French. Several battles ensued between the two groups, including the Battle of Fort Coligny (1560 CE) and the Battle of the Canoes (1566 CE). This conflict culminated in the Battle for Rio de Janeiro in 1567 CE, which the Portuguese and Temiminó won, largely thanks to the heroic leadership of the Temiminó chief Araribóia. The Portuguese then established the city of Rio de Janeiro and allocated Araribóia and the Temiminó people a large portion of land because of the role they played in the conflict.