Maracajás

The Maracajás were one of the many Tupinambá subgroups that inhabited Guanabara before the arrival of the Europeans, especially the present-day Ilha do Governador. The Maracajás and their domains were constantly visited by Portuguese vessels throughout the pre-colonial period, establishing a relationship of strategic proximity, and for this reason they contributed decisively to the founding of Rio de Janeiro.

Image description: The image is an old engraving depicting an island with several marked areas. On the left side, there is a large, densely populated area with trees and buildings. On the right, there is a stretch of water with a few small islets and rocks. In the center, there is a large open area with sparse vegetation, and to the right, another densely populated area with trees and buildings. In the bottom right corner, there is a red stamp with text in French. In the top right corner, there is a blue stamp with text in French. In the bottom left corner, there is a compass and a blue stamp with text in French. In the bottom right corner, there is a red stamp with text in French.

Cunhambebe, the great tamoio leader, liked to say that he was a jaguar, and his enemies, in turn, were “marakaîas”, that is, wildcats. It is likely that this pejorative nickname is associated with the main leadership of this indigenous group, recorded in historical sources as Maracajaguaçu, “the great wildcat”.

The related tabas of Maracajaguaçu dominated the Ilha do Governador at least until 1554, but they were not confined to that territory. Other regions – in the Baixada Fluminense and at the back of Guanabara Bay – were also inhabited by them. In 1554, they began to be persecuted and fought by the French and their Tupinambá allies, until they were expelled. The Maracajás would be the indigenous people enslaved by the French during the brief period of the Antarctic France. The survivors exiled themselves in Espírito Santo, from where they set out in the following years, alongside Tupiniquim indigenous people, to help the Portuguese in the battles that destroyed Fort Coligny in 1560, and in the expedition that founded Rio de Janeiro, starting in 1564.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. It shows a maritime scene with several vessels and coastal land. On the left side, we see an island with a fortification and a small house. In the foreground, there is a large ship with several masts. In the center, two ships are engaged in a battle, with smoke coming from their bows. On the right, there is another island with dense vegetation. In the background, we see a large body of water with current lines and rocks.

The “índios gato” were also important for maintaining and protecting the captaincy of Espírito Santo starting in 1555, where they spread along the coast. This Tupinambá subgroup's connection from Guanabara with the Portuguese has to do with the first Portuguese trading post, which existed between 1504 and 1516 on what is now Ilha do Governador. Built by Amerigo Vespucci on the “great island” beyond Cabo Frio, the trading post supplied the tabas of Ilha do Governador in exchange for brazilwood, with manufactured goods and metal tools, both desired by the indigenous people – a relationship lasting almost a decade.

The initial presence of the Portuguese in this region was responsible for creating bonds of friendship and kinship with the Maracajás through the practice of "cunhadismo," the way in which the Tupinambás introduced strangers into their society, with practices such as marriage. In this way, relationships and alliances were established. In December 1552, the governor-general Tomé de Sousa went to Guanabara, but was unable to land on the coast. The beaches were full of Tupinambá warriors, blocking access with threats. The governor then decided to head to the "Island of the Cat Indians," where he was received with solemn ceremonies by Maracajaguaçu. On that occasion, the Jesuits celebrated the first mass in Rio de Janeiro.

Image description: This is a black-and-white engraving. The scene depicts a violent conflict between groups of people. On the left side, we see figures holding bows and arrows, while on the right are those with close-combat weapons near the ground. In the center, two individuals are engaged in an intense physical struggle. Along the upper margins, there are inscriptions that appear to identify the groups involved in the conflict.

The Maracajás shared not only the same territory, but also the cultural, linguistic, and ritualistic roots of the other Tupinambá communities. Their ancestral enemies were the same as those of the other tabas of Rio de Janeiro. Historically, however, they almost achieved the status of a distinct ethnic group due to their alliance with the Portuguese and their decisive participation in the wars of conquest of Guanabara. This alliance also led the Maracajás to become known as "Temiminós," the term by which the indigenous peoples allied with the Portuguese would come to be known.