Brought to Ubatuba as a Captive, 1554

Desselbigen tages ungeferlich nach der Sonnen zurechnen, wars umb vesperzeit, als wir ire wonungen sahen, waren also drey tage auff der heimfart gewesen. Dann es waren dahin ich geführet ward, dreissig meil wegs von Brikioka, da ich gefangen wurd.

That same day, roughly reckoning by the sun, it was about vesper time when we saw their dwellings; we had thus been three days on the journey home. For it was, to where I was taken, thirty miles of way from Brikioka, where I was captured.

That same day, as near as I could tell by the sun, it was about evening when we came in sight of their dwellings. We had been three days on the way home. The place where I was taken was thirty miles from Brikioka,1 where I had been captured.

1. Bertioga, a Portuguese fort on the coast near São Vicente, where Staden served as a gunner. A German mile was roughly 7 kilometers, so thirty miles is a little over 200 kilometers.

Wie wir nun hart bey ihre wonung kamen, war es ein dörfflin, das hatte sieben hütten, und nanten es Uwattibi. Wir fuhren auff ein ufer landes, welchs auff dem Meer ligt, da harte bey waren ihre weiber in iren wurtzel gewechs, welches sie Mandioka heyssen. In demselbigen wurtzel gewechs giengen viel irer weiber und rissen wurtzeln auß, den muste ich zu ruffen in irer spraach: A Junesche been ermi vramme. Das ist: Ich ewer essenspeise komme.

As we now came close to their dwelling, it was a little village that had seven huts, and they called it Uwattibi. We put in on a shore of land which lies on the sea; close by were their women in their root plantation, which they call Mandioka. In that same root plantation many of their women were going about and pulling up roots; to them I had to call out in their language: A Junesche been ermi vramme. That is: I, your food, come.

When we came close to their dwellings, I saw it was a small village of seven huts. They called it Uwattibi. We landed on a stretch of shore by the sea. Close by, their women were in their fields of the root they call mandioka.2 Many of the women were walking among the plants, pulling up roots. I had to call out to them in their language, A junesche been ermi vramme. That means, "I, your food, am coming."3

2. Manioc (cassava), a root crop whose tubers were grated, squeezed and toasted into flour, the staple food of the Tupi.
3. Staden's Tupi, as printed: A junesche been ermi vramme. Scholars read it roughly as "I, your food, have come."

Wie wir nun an landt kamen, lieffen sie alle auß den hütten (welchs auff einem berge lag) jung und alt, mich zubesehen. Und die männer giengen mit iren bogen und pfeilen nach iren hütten, und befülhen mich iren weibern, dieselbigen namen mich zwischen sich, und giengen etliche vor mir, und etliche hinter mir her, Sungen und tantzten an einem singen, die gesenge so sie den eigenen leuten pflegen zu singen, wann sie die wollen essen.

As we now came to land, they all ran out of the huts (which lay on a hill), young and old, to look at me. And the men went with their bows and arrows to their huts and commanded me to their women; these took me between them, and some went before me and some behind me, sang and danced in one singing, the songs that they are accustomed to sing to their own people when they want to eat them.

When we came ashore, they all ran out of the huts, which stood on a hill, young and old, to look at me. The men went off to their huts with their bows and arrows and left me to their women. The women took me between them, some walking in front of me and some behind. They sang and danced all together, singing the songs they sing to their own captives when they mean to eat them.

Wie sie mich nun vor die hütten Ywara, das ist vor ire Festunge brachten, welche sie machen rundumb ire hütten her, von grossen langen reydeln, gleich wie ein zaun umb ein garten. Das thun sie umb irer feinde willen. Wie ich nun hinein kam, lieff das frawen volck zu mir, und schlugen mich mit feusten, und raufften mich bey dem bart, und sprachen in irer spraach: Sehe innamme pepikeae. Das ist so viel gesagt: Den schlag reche ich an dir von meines freunds wegen, Den die, darunter du gewesen bist, getödtet haben.

As they now brought me before the huts, Ywara, that is before their fortification, which they make round about their huts of great long poles, just like a fence around a garden — this they do on account of their enemies — as I now came inside, the women-folk ran to me and struck me with fists and pulled me by the beard, and said in their language: Sehe innamme pepikeae. That is as much as to say: This blow I avenge on you on account of my friend, whom those among whom you have been have killed.

They brought me to the ywara in front of the huts, that is, their fortification.4 They make it all around their huts out of great long poles, like a fence around a garden, to keep out their enemies. When I came inside, the women ran up to me. They hit me with their fists, pulled my beard, and said in their language, Sehe innamme pepikeae. That means, "With this blow I take revenge on you for my friend, whom the people you have been living among have killed."5

4. A stockade of tall poles around the village, built for defense.
5. The women were avenging their own dead on him, for he had been living among the Tupiniquim and Portuguese, their enemies.

Darnach fürten sie mich in die hütten, da muste ich in ein Inni ligen, da kamen die weiber vor und nach schlugen und raufften mich, und draweten mir, wie sie mich essen wollen. So was das Manns volck in einer hütten bey einander, und truncken die getrencke, welche sie Kawi nennen, und hatten ire Götter bey sich, Tammerka genant, und sungen inen zum ehren, das sie inen so wol geweissaget hatten, daz sie mich fangen sollen. Solchen gesang höret ich, und es kam in einer halben stund kein mans volck bey mich, dann allein weiber und kinder.

Then they led me into the huts; there I had to lie in an Inni [hammock]; there the women came before and after, struck and pulled me, and threatened me how they would eat me. Meanwhile the men-folk were in a hut together and drank the drinks which they call Kawi, and had their gods with them, called Tammerka, and sang to them in their honor, that they had prophesied to them so well that they should capture me. Such singing I heard, and for half an hour no man came near me, only women and children.

Then they led me into the huts, where I had to lie in an inni, a hammock. The women came again and again, hit me, pulled at me, and threatened me with how they would eat me. Meanwhile the men were together in one hut, drinking the drink they call kawi.6 They had their gods with them, called tammerka.7 They sang in their honor, because the gods had foretold so well that they would capture me. I heard the singing. For half an hour no man came near me, only women and children.

6. Kawi (cauim), a drink brewed from manioc or maize, drunk at feasts.
7. Rattles made from gourds holding stones or seeds, set on staffs. The Tupinambá believed spirits spoke through them. Staden, a Lutheran, calls them "idols."

Ich wußte iren gebrauch so wol nit, als ich in darnach erfuhr, und gedacht, ietzund rüsten sie zu dich zutödten. Uber eine kleine weil kamen die, so mich gefangen hatten, mit namen Jeppipo Wasu, und sein bruder Alkindar Miri, Sagten, Wie sie mich ires vatters bruder Ipperu Wasu auß freundtschafft geschenckt hatten, derselbige soll mich verwaren, und mich auch tod schlagen, wann man mich essen wolte, und ime also einen namen mit mir machen.

I did not know their custom as well as I learned it afterward, and thought: now they are preparing to kill you. After a little while came those who had captured me, by name Jeppipo Wasu and his brother Alkindar Miri; said that they had given me out of friendship to their father's brother Ipperu Wasu; that same one should keep me and also strike me dead when one wanted to eat me, and so make himself a name with me.

I did not know their customs as well as I learned them later, and I thought, "Now they are getting ready to kill you." After a little while the men who had captured me came, Jeppipo Wasu and his brother Alkindar Miri. They said they had given me as a gift of friendship to their father's brother, Ipperu Wasu.8 He was to keep me, and also to club me to death when it was time to eat me, and so win himself a name by me.9

8. Staden's captors were brothers whom he names Jeppipo Wasu and Alkindar Miri. Ipperu Wasu was their father's brother.
9. Among the Tupinambá, a man who killed a captive in the ritual took a new name, which brought him honor.

Dann derselbige Ipperu Wasu hette vor einem Jar auch einen schlaven gefangen, und inen dem Alkindar Miri auß freundtschafft geschenckt, Denselbigen er tod geschlagen, und einen namen darvon gewunnen hatte. So das der Alkindar Miri dem Ipperu Wasu verheissen hette, den ersten so er fienge, ime wider zuschencken, Der jenige ich da war.

For that same Ipperu Wasu had a year before also captured a slave and given him to Alkindar Miri out of friendship, whom he had struck dead and won a name from it. So that Alkindar Miri had promised Ipperu Wasu to give him in return the first one he caught. The one I was.

A year before, this same Ipperu Wasu had also captured a slave and given him to Alkindar Miri as a gift of friendship. Alkindar Miri had clubbed him to death and won a name by it. So Alkindar Miri had promised Ipperu Wasu to give him the first captive he took in return. I was that captive.

Weiter sagten die vorgenante beyde, so mich gefangen hatten: Ietzt werden die frawen dich aufführen, Aprasse. Das wort verstund ich da nicht, es heysset aber tantzen, also zohen sie mich wider mit den stricken, so ich umb den hals hatte, Auß der hütten auff den platz. Es kamen alle weiber, so in den sieben hütten waren, und griffen mich an, und daz manns volck gieng darvon. Da leyteten mich die weiber, etliche bey den armen, etliche bey den stricken, so ich umb den hals hatte, so hart das ich kaum den athem konte holen. Also zohen sie mit mir hin, ich wuste nicht was sie mit mir in dem sinne hatten, mit dem wurd ich ingedenck, des leidens unsers Erlösers Jesu Christi, wie der von den schnöden Juden unschuldig leyd, Dardurch tröstete ich mich und war desto gedültiger.

Further the two aforementioned, who had captured me, said: Now the women will lead you out, Aprasse. That word I did not understand then, but it means dancing. So they pulled me again with the ropes which I had around my neck out of the hut onto the open place. All the women who were in the seven huts came and took hold of me, and the men went away. Then the women led me, some by the arms, some by the ropes I had around my neck, so hard that I could hardly draw breath. So they went along with me; I did not know what they had in mind for me; with that I remembered the suffering of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, how he suffered innocently at the hands of the vile Jews; by that I comforted myself and was all the more patient.

The two who had captured me went on: "Now the women will lead you out to aprasse." I did not understand the word then, but it means dancing. Then they dragged me out of the hut again by the ropes around my neck, onto the open ground. All the women of the seven huts came and took hold of me, and the men went away. The women led me off, some by the arms and some by the ropes around my neck, pulling so hard that I could barely breathe. So they took me along, and I did not know what they meant to do with me. Then I remembered the suffering of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, how he suffered innocently at the hands of the vile Jews. That comforted me, and I was all the more patient.

Do brachten sie mich vor des Königes hütten, der hieß Vratinge Wasu, Das ist auff Teutsch gesagt, der grosse weisse vogel, vor desselbigen hütten lag ein heufflin frischer erden, da führten sie mich bey, und satzten mich darauff, und etliche hielten mich, da meinte ich nicht anders, dann sie würden mich da als baldt zu todt schlagen, und sahe mich umb nach dem Iwera Pemme, darmit sie die leut erschlagen, und fragte, ob sie mich so baldt tödten wollen, da sagten sie, noch nicht; da kam eine fraw auß dem hauffen bey mich, und hatte ein schiberstück von einem Christallen, zwischen einem dinge gleich als gebogen reißlin, und schar mir mit demselbigen Christallen die weimbron an den augen ab, und wolte mir den bart vom maul auch abschneiden, solchs wolt ich nicht leiden, und sagte sie sollen mich mit dem bart tödten. Da sagten sie, sie wollen mich noch nicht tödten, und liessen mir den bart. Doch nach etlichen tagen schnieden sie mir in ab mit einer scheer, so die Frantzosen inen geben.

Then they brought me before the king's hut; he was called Vratinge Wasu, that is in German, the great white bird. Before that same hut lay a little heap of fresh earth; they led me there and set me on it, and some held me; then I thought nothing else than that they would strike me dead there at once, and I looked around for the Iwera Pemme with which they strike people dead, and asked whether they wanted to kill me so soon; they said, not yet. Then a woman came out of the crowd to me and had a splinter of a crystal [set] in a thing like a bent twig, and with that same crystal she shaved off my eyebrows, and wanted also to cut the beard from my mouth; this I would not suffer, and said they should kill me with the beard. Then they said they did not want to kill me yet, and left me the beard. But after some days they cut it off me with a pair of scissors that the French had given them.

Then they brought me before the hut of the king, whose name was Vratinge Wasu, which in German means "the great white bird." In front of his hut lay a little heap of fresh earth. They led me to it and sat me down on it, and some of them held me. I thought they were surely going to kill me there at once. I looked around for the iwera pemme,10 the club they use to kill people, and asked whether they meant to kill me so soon. They said, "Not yet." Then a woman came out of the crowd to me. She had a sliver of crystal set in something like a bent twig. With it she shaved off my eyebrows, and she wanted to cut off my beard as well. I would not let her. I said they should kill me with my beard on. They said they did not mean to kill me yet, and left me my beard. But a few days later they cut it off with a pair of scissors the French had given them.

10. The wooden club used to kill captives in the ritual.

Darnach führten sie mich von dem ort, da sie mir die augenbrawen abgeschoren hatten, vor die hütten, da die Tammerka ire Abgötter in waren, und machten einen runten kreiß umb mich her, da stund ich mitten innen, und zwey weiber bey mir, und bunden mir an ein bein etliche dinger an einer schnuren, die rasselten, und bunden mir auch eine scheibe von vögel schwentzen gemacht, war viereket, hinden auff den hals das sie mir uber das heubt gieng, und heysset auff ire sprache Arasoya, darnach fieng daz weibs volck alle mit einander an zusingen, und gleich wie ir thon lautet, so muste ich mit dem beine, daran sie mir die rasseln gebunden hatten, nider tretten, auff das es rasselte und zusammen stimmete. Und das bein darin ich verwundet war thet mir so wehe, das ich kaum stehen kundte, dann ich war noch nicht verbunden.

Then they led me from the place where they had shaved off my eyebrows before the huts in which the Tammerka, their idols, were, and made a round circle around me; there I stood in the middle, and two women with me, and they bound on one of my legs some things on a string that rattled, and they also bound on me a disc made of bird tails, it was square, behind on the neck so that it went up over my head, and [it] is called in their language Arasoya; then the women-folk all began to sing together, and just as their tune sounded, so I had to stamp down with the leg on which they had bound the rattles, so that it rattled and kept time. And the leg in which I was wounded hurt me so much that I could hardly stand, for I was not yet bandaged.

Then they led me from the place where they had shaved off my eyebrows to the huts where they kept their idols, the tammerka. They made a ring around me, and I stood in the middle with two women beside me. They tied some things that rattled on a string around one of my legs. They also tied a square fan made of bird tail feathers to the back of my neck, so that it rose up over my head. In their language it is called arasoya. Then all the women began to sing together. I had to stamp in time with their tune, using the leg with the rattles, so that it rattled and kept the beat. My wounded leg hurt so much that I could hardly stand, for it had not yet been bandaged.

Wie nun der tantze ein ende hatte, ward ich dem Ipperu Wasu überliffert. Daselbst hatten sie mich in guter bewarung. Da sagte er mir, ich hette noch etlich zeit zu leben. Und sie brachten ire abgötter alle so in der hütten waren, und setzten sie umb mich her und sagten, Die hettens geweissaget, das man einen Portugaleser hette sollen fangen. Da sagte ich, die dinger haben keine macht, und können auch nicht reden, und ligen, das ich ein Portugaleser bin, sonder ich bin der Frantzosen freund verwanten einer, und das landt da ich daheime bin, heysset Allemanien.

When now the dance had an end, I was handed over to Ipperu Wasu. There they kept me in good custody. Then he told me I still had some time to live. And they brought all their idols that were in the hut and set them around me and said: these had prophesied it, that one should capture a Portuguese. Then I said: the things have no power and also cannot speak, and lie that I am a Portuguese; rather I am one of the friends and kinsmen of the French, and the land where I am at home is called Allemanien.

When the dance was over, I was handed over to Ipperu Wasu, and there they kept me under close guard. He told me I still had some time to live. They brought all the idols that were in the hut, set them around me, and said these had foretold that they would capture a Portuguese. I said, "These things have no power and cannot speak. They are lying when they say I am Portuguese. I am a friend and kinsman of the French, and the land where I am at home is called Allemanien."11

11. Staden means Germany. The French traded with the Tupinambá for brazilwood, which made a red dye.