“Aos confins dos selvagens”: a presença indígena na viagem de Spix & Martius ao Estado do Grão-Pará e Rio Negro (1819-1820)

Abstract

This present study sought to analyze the expedition of Bavarian naturalists Johann Baptist von Spix (1781-1826) and Karl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794-1868) to the region of the State of Grão-Pará and Rio Negro between the years 1819 and 1820. It aimed to investigate descriptions made by naturalists about the indigenous populations from which they obtained informations and/or had contacts along the route. For this, it was essential to present how the preparation and execution of this trip took place: which were the objetives, routes, informants, trip team, among others. Another fundamental objective of the research was to understand how the experience of naturalists with indigenous peoples of the region appear in the travel narrative. For the research were also considered the individual travel reports of Spix and Martius present in the narrative, highlighting the ideas produced separately about indigenous peoples.