Caetés
Encyclopedia
The Caetés were an indigenous people of Brazil
, linguistically belonging to the Tupi people.
During the 16th Century, this tribe inhabited the Brazilian coast from the mouth of river São Francisco to the island of Itamaracá
, by the River Paraíba, in an area limited, in the north, by the land of the potiguaras and, in the south, by tupinambás. With the arrival of the Portuguese, which allied with their enemies, the Tupinambá, the Caetés migrated inland, and some settlements survived in the state of Pará
, in Northern Brazil.
Caetés, like many other indigenous people in the coast of Brazil, practiced a ritual form of cannibalism
, and were accused of eating the first bishop
of Brazil
, Pedro Fernandes Sardinha, after his ship sank near the mouth of the river Coruripe (Alagoas) during his return journey to Portugal. A hundred other passengers were said to be captured and eaten by the Caetés.
After being accused of eating the bishop, the Caetés were considered "enemies of the civilized world", and were chased and killed by the Portuguese, with the help of fully armed Tupinambá tribes. Although there are remains of Caeté pottery in many parts of inland Brazil, and evidence of their survival in Northern Brazil, they are now extinct.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, linguistically belonging to the Tupi people.
During the 16th Century, this tribe inhabited the Brazilian coast from the mouth of river São Francisco to the island of Itamaracá
Itamaracá
Itamaracá is an island and a city in Pernambuco, Brazil, in the Atlantic Ocean. The name means "stone shaker" in Tupi, from the words itá and mbara'ká . Itamaracá has a total area of 65.41 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 18,658 inhabitants in 2009 according with IBGE...
, by the River Paraíba, in an area limited, in the north, by the land of the potiguaras and, in the south, by tupinambás. With the arrival of the Portuguese, which allied with their enemies, the Tupinambá, the Caetés migrated inland, and some settlements survived in the state of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
, in Northern Brazil.
Caetés, like many other indigenous people in the coast of Brazil, practiced a ritual form of cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, and were accused of eating the first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Pedro Fernandes Sardinha, after his ship sank near the mouth of the river Coruripe (Alagoas) during his return journey to Portugal. A hundred other passengers were said to be captured and eaten by the Caetés.
After being accused of eating the bishop, the Caetés were considered "enemies of the civilized world", and were chased and killed by the Portuguese, with the help of fully armed Tupinambá tribes. Although there are remains of Caeté pottery in many parts of inland Brazil, and evidence of their survival in Northern Brazil, they are now extinct.