Tumamamba Savagery

De Léry’s book on his voyage to the land of Brazil documented a detailed account on the culture and life histories of the native people who lived in the northern coast of Brazil, the Tupimamba. Throughout the scope of the book, De Léry describes the savagery and animalistic innocence and nature of the Tupimamba, and while the Tupimamba do exhibit some beastly cultural practices, I found that with both cultures, French and Tupimamba, there are some interesting facets of both cultures that state that the French are more savage than they think, and the Tupimamba are more civilized than they think. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the book as the depiction of the Catholic priest Villegagnon. This supposed holy man had an entire chapter

They were occasional cannibals who ate human flash of their prisoners of war, including any children they came across. They were ferocious people when it came to war, and they lived a simple life, but with the other savagery they displayed in the book, I find this “savagery” overstated. In page 58, the native’s physical features and lack of clothing were documented, and most of the savage nature can easily be explained by the environment they lived in, or be compared to French culture. I don’t find it savage at all that the natives have gone around naked. Brazil is a hot and wet place and it would be killer to walk about in any garments. Tattooing is common in both Tupimamba and European seafaring culture. Even the Tupimamba tools are equal or better than French tools. Most aspects of the native’s culture, I found, were either different or equal. Both the Tupimamba and French seem to like to joke around with each other, primarily on how they eat their food (pg 75). Laughter is the most human emotion, and to see both cultures share jokes is to see how interesting both cultures can be. Many other comparisons can be made. The Tupimamba’s love of their drink can be compared to the “civilized” Germans (pg 75), or how the women of both cultures take great care in their hair and beauty (pg 64). And I find it beautiful that both cultures, French and Tupimamba exhibit altruism by housing each other. The French housed some Tupimamba