TheportdocksinearlyRio

Quem seria capaz de descrever as belezas que apresenta a baía do Rio de Janeiro, esse porto que, na opinião de um dos nossos almirantes mais instruídos, poderia conter todos os navios da Europa?

The coves of Guanabara Bay invited the first navigators to disembark, besides being a strategic location in the Portuguese interest of taking possession of the lands further south along that coast than what would become Brazil. Guanabara is a word in the Tupi-Guarani language, designating "arm of the sea" or "bosom of the sea" or even "river-sea." Its name reminds us of the indigenous peoples, who first inhabited that surrounding area of calm waters, populated by dolphins and whales, beautifully curving into beaches with little sand. The depth of the water did not allow larger vessels to reach the coast, and for that smaller boats — almost canoes — were needed. This was the bay that, mistaken for a river mouth — perhaps — was found by foreign caravels right at the beginning of the 16th century. The Florentine navigator Amerigo Vespucci praised, in 1502, the qualities of the place, describing it as "a pleasant, temperate and healthy land."

Image description: This is a painting depicting a harbor pier in early Rio. On the left side, we see a series of boats floating on the blue sea. Moving to the right, we observe houses and buildings arranged along the beach. In the center, there is an elevated structure with a tower, possibly a church or public building, standing on a green hill. In the background, further to the right, are other buildings and a bridge crossing the river. The sky is clear and the horizon is slightly tilted, suggesting that the image was painted during the day.

In a place close to the mouth of the bay — but not too close, so that it would remain safe — the docks were built, in a small cove, where mooring points for small boats were gradually constructed. The first occupation by the Portuguese around what would become the founding landmark of the city took place near Flamengo beach, but its continuity and expansion faced constant struggle against the indigenous peoples, largely Tamoios, who defended their land as they rightly should. In the Battle of Uruçumirim, in 1567, there were dozens of deaths and hundreds of indigenous villages were burned down. Other indigenous groups, such as the Temiminós, allied themselves with the Portuguese, in the harsh dispute to remain on that land.

Image description: The image is a painting depicting a confrontation scene between two groups of people in canoes. From left to right, we see a group of naked men, holding paddles and actively taking part in the action. They are in a canoe decorated with geometric motifs. On the right, there is another group of men dressed in more elaborate clothing, also holding paddles and appearing to be engaged in a fight or dispute. The background features a cloudy sky and some distant figures, possibly other boats or landscape elements. The painting is in tones of gray and beige, suggesting it may be a black-and-white work or one with soft colors.

The port was born marked by this history of conflicts. In front of this wharf, a Carmelite convent was erected in the 17th century. And, later, in the first half of the 18th century, the headquarters of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, which would become the Paço Imperial — a symbol of colonial power. At this place, people and goods disembarked in the city that became the capital of Portuguese America in the mid-18th century. It was not the only landing wharf; there were other beaches, such as that of the miners, where those coming from Minas Gerais arrived to receive their shipments, also in that century. São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro: a sea-city, markedly Black in this time of such intense Atlantic connections, but with a history of long-standing Indigenous presence and struggles along its shores.

Image description: This is a painting depicting a port dock in early Rio. From left to right, we see a series of boats floating on the sea, some of them containing people. In the center, there is a larger vessel with several figures wearing varied clothing. In the distance, we see a city with several buildings, including domed churches, and in the background, mountains covered with vegetation. The sky is full of clouds, giving the scene a light tone.