Histórias de guerra: os índios notocudos e a sociedade oitentista

Abstract

In the 19th century the Botocudos Indians inhabited areas in the valley of the Doce, Mucuri and Jequitinhonha rivers. Such areas became the object of conquest, exploration and of the civilizing intentions of society. The growing reduction in the size of the Indian area incited the conflicts among the several groups which shared it, as well as started a war between the Botocudos and the white men, officially declared by the latter in 1808. Based on a detailed reading of works by travellers, it is noticeable that, in the ensuing battles, the Botocudos developed their warring strategies in a singular way, both in their tactical relationship with the forest and in the effective connection between their knowledge of their environment, their weapons and a type of fighting based on surprise attacks. For such men, life was inseparable from war.