Abstract
In 1872, the Munduruku people entered the Bacabal mission, founded by Friar Pelino de Castrovalva, in the Tapajós River. The missionary expected to civilize and teach them catechism, in order to make them abhor the “savage life” and build “the Munduruku town”. Besides conflicts with the resettled Indians, the capuchin friar suffered attacks from river merchants, who envisaged the missionary’s attempt to isolate the Indians as a threat to their interests. Based on the memories of Friar Pelino de Castrovalva, on memos and on 19thcentury newspapers, it is examined the means by which the Munduruku adhered to the Bacabal mission, ensuring the access to the intended non-indigenous commodities, notwithstanding the maintenance of their own goals.
Keywords:
Munduruku; Friar Pelino de Castrovalva; Mission; Amazon