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An early Portuguese description
of Brazil,
from Samuel Purchas,
Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas his
Pilgrimes
(London, 1625), volume IV.
Reader, I here present thee the exactest
Treatise of Brasil which I have seen written by any man . . . It was written
(it seemeth) by a Portuguese friar (or Jesuite)which had lived thirtie
yeares in those parts, from whom (much against his will) the written Book
was taken by one Frances Cooke of Dartmouth in a voyage outward bound for
Brasil, An. 1601, who sold the same to Master Hacket for twenty shillings;
by whose procurement it was translated out of Portugall into English. .
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It seemeth that this people hath no knowledge
of the beginning and creation of the world, but of the deluge it seemeth
they have some notice: but as they have no writing nor characters such
notice is obscure: for they say that the waters drowned all men, and that
one onely escaped upon a Ianipata with a sister of his that was with child,
and that from these two they have their beginning, and from thence began
their multiplying and increase.
This people hath not any knowledge of their
Creator, not of any thing of heaven, nor if there be any pain nor glory
after this life. . . .
This Nation hath no monie wherewith to satisfie
the services that are done to them, but they live with bartering one thing
for another. . . .
And the children are joyfull and given to
play, and they play with such quietnesse and friendship, that among them
is no bad name heard, or any scurrilitie, or calling any nickname one to
anothers Father or Mother; and seldom doe they disagree when they play,
nor disorder themselves for any thing, and verie seldome do they strike
or fight one with another. The Fathers doe teach them from their
cradles to dance and sing, and their dancings are not sundrie changes,
but a continual stamping with the feet standing still, or going round about,
or stirring their body or their head, and they doe it all by such compass,
and pleasantnesse as can be defined. . . .
Before they had any knowledge of the Portuguals,
they used tools and instruments of stone, bone, wood, Canes, and teeth
of Beasts, etc. and with these they hewed down great Woods, with wedges
of stones, helping themselves with fire: and they digged also the ground
with certain sharpe stakes, and they made their Brooches, Beades of Wilkes,
Bowes, and Arrowes, as well as now having instruments of iron, but they
spent a long time in making of whatever thing; wherefore they esteeme the
iron verie much, for the facilitie or ease which they find in making their
things with it. And this is the reason wherefore they are glad of Commerce
with the Portuguals or white men.