| Notes
on Research Project: Brazil —
July to October, 1981
My
novel is historical and a major part of my work can be accomplished
through a study of published sources. No matter how assiduously
this is undertaken, such bookwork cannot offer on location observation
with its inestimable value in bringing comprehension and adding
reality to your perspective. The following notes, more or less
in line with my envisaged chapter structure, indicate the kind
of material and experience I am seeking.
Creative
people are not supposed to be as formal as this, but with so
vast a project in mind I have to adopt some kind of organized
strategy for the research stage or I'll never put it all together.
1.
Rain forest
I
want to describe, in detail, a single acre — "God's Little
Acre," in a way — before mankind's arrival. I need to
speak with experts at a forest
research station (outside Belém?), who
can explain, in simplest terms, the symbiosis of the forest,
its creation and the miraculous web of life that ensures its
survival. I need a geologist
to outline the creation of the Amazon basin
and the forces that shaped the sub-continent as we know it today.
A zoologist to
tell me about the animal life of the virgin forest. And a sociologist
who can expound on "man and the forest," the
forest's effect on man over the centuries, both indigenous and
immigrant. (Charles Wagley, An Introduction to Brazil, has
some pertinent remarks on this theme.)
I'm
keen to keep the forest in perspective, but do see it as an
important link to a non-Brazilian's understanding of the country.
The perspective a Brazilian would like to see should come to
a reader of a book such as mine as the full extent of Brazil's
story unfolds. It will become clear that the cliche image of
jungle and river and little else is erroneous.
2.
The Indians
I
am aware that visits to Indian groups are difficult to arrange
and my feeling is that while observation of an Amerindian settlement
would be valuable, I can sympathize with serious-minded anthropologists
having to contend with 'visitors'. Again, there is a wealth
of published material on Indian culture and I'm capable of drawing
my inspiration from this. However, it would be valuable to talk
with an expert on the Tupinamba
and Tupiniquin groups in the vicinity of the
littoral at the time of Cabral's landfall. And to visit a worthwhile
museum or other institute that
exhibits their artifacts and depicts their lifestyle.
I
have well in mind a story built around the main group that Cabral
encounters and the gaps in my knowledge are the kind
that can be filled during some intensive sessions with someone
who knows the early history and has a sympathy for the first
inhabitants of Brazil. On Cabral's landfall, I would like to
visit Porto Seguro and
environs, possibly get out to sea on a boat and imagine the
rest for myself.
What
I also find of great value in trying to recapture these early
historical stages are collections of old prints, etchings etc.
That solitary, forgotten artist can often bring more lucidity
than a pile of text!
3.
The Portuguese
Seen
in the first quarter of the 16th century, this section has been
researched in Lisbon and emphasizes the Portuguese empire in
the East and early attempts at settling Brazil.
However,
it is here that I show the first of my two major fictional families
— the Cavalcantis in the captaincy of Duarte Coelho in
Pernambuco.
This
leads to one of my most crucial research projects: The Cavalcanti
sugar plantation,
(near Olinda?)
is seen throughout my book, from 1534 to the present, from initial
pioneer tract to "Big House" of the 18th century, to usina,
and to independent plantation of the 1970's successfully thwarting
a multinational agribusiness takeover bid.
I
am interested in every aspect of such a plantation from the
simplest detail such as how sugar grows to the social life and
values of the plantation itself and its relationship with the
surrounding community. I'd look for details as prosaic as the
equipment in an 18th century kitchen, the schooling of the owner's
children, local festivals, customs etc.
I
have, of course, read Gilberto Freyre's works, and anything
else I have been able to lay my hands on but this cannot replace
an opportunity of visiting a plantation and gaining a real insight
into its past and present.
4.
The Jesuits
It
will be essential for me to meet with Jesuit
historians to talk about the early history of
the Company in Brazil and get a clear picture of their relations
with the Indians and settlers. If anything remotely like a reduction
— present day mission
station? —
exists, I would like to visit it. But I am more interested here
in "matters of the soul;" I have a great feeling for those early
preachers engaged on so daunting and lonely a mission in the
New World and intend to devote a chapter to them. I need to
know what it was really like. What manner of men, what motivation
brought the courage that led Nobrega and Anchieta to assume
so formidable a task?
I
would also like to have the settler
opinion from a qualified source: the reaction
to the fathers, the reductions etc. (For this and later sections
a visit to the Missiones area,
might be valuable.)
Since
I have always lived in a Protestant-orientated society, I would
welcome meetings with Catholic
churchmen on the importance of religious values
in a society such as Brazil, in its formative and growth stages.
I would like to comprehend the role and importance of the priest
in a small community by observing rather than talking about
it.
5.
The Bandeirantes
I'll
first deal with São
Paulo through the early Paulista settlement
and the Jesuit reduction; later, as home base for the bandeirantes.
Here, Bernardo da Silva's clan, the second major fictional family
of the book emerges and will be seen in conjunction with the
Cavalcantis from this point onwards. Besides the bandeirante
era (I concentrate on 1628-1681,) subsequent chapters will see
the da Silvas involved in the gold mines to the north and, finally,
in the days of the Empire, established on a coffee fazenda.
They later head up a large corporation in São Paulo interested
in, among other things, road construction in Amazonia.
As
with the sugar plantation, I need to spend a brief but intensive
period on a classic coffee
fazenda.
On
my draft itinerary I have in mind a visit to the headwaters
of the
São Francisco/Doce rivers,
the area roamed over so many years by Fernao Dias Paes Leme,
on whom I lean strongly for characterization of my bandeirante
patriarch.
With
the bandeirantes, I specially want to get a picture of their
lifestyle that goes beyond the much-publicized bandeiras —
family life, day-to-day existence, community structure, relationship
with authority, 'peaceful' pursuits of work, industry etc.
I'll
be writing about one of the greatest bandeiras of all, that
of Raposo Tavares from São Paulo to the Madeira
and Amazon. I obviously don't plan to follow
his exact route but will pick up glimpses of it through travel
and research for other sections of the book.
6.
The Planters
The
Cavalcanti sugar plantation is seen over four centuries and
requires detailed research. Here, too, I'm interested in the
slave market at Recife;
the arrival, sale and life of the slaves.
For
this section, I want to visit the backlands of the northeast,
the classic sertão.
I'll also need to have touched base with Ouro
Preto, and the mining era museums etc. Bahia
(Salvador) is seen briefly, with particular
reference to the Jesuits
and the Misericordia.
As
my research priorities indicate I am, in the main, staying away
from major cities. The localities I'm interested in offer an
attainable framework for a non-Brazilian writer: to attempt
anything in detail about the big cities is asking for trouble.
There will, of course, be brief forays toward them as with Carnival
in Rio.
7.
Empire
The
da Silva fazenda looms large during this period - a fazenda
prosperous enough to have Emperor Dom Pedro II pay a visit to
it.
Two
major research areas here are the Paraguayan
War and the Abolition
of Slavery. As I stress throughout these notes,
while some of my time can be given over to interviews I plan
this as a field trip - It will be better for me to visit some
of the battle sites of the war with an enthusiastic military
historian than to examine uniforms, weapons of the era in a
museum.
8.
Foreigners and Fanatics
For
this section, I need to visit the site of Canudos.
I've read Euclides da Cunha several times, as well as other
references to this tragic episode but beyond the "facts,"
it is important for me to simply walk the ground upon which
Conselheiro and his people fought and died. Perhaps to seek
out backlands villages untouched by time that are reminiscent
of the era.
My
next interest lies in the Madeira-Mamoré
railroad. A brief visit to Manaus
could profitably be followed by a river trip
down to Porto Velho and
environs of the railroad project. Here, too, I want to deal
with Roosevelt's 'River of
Doubt' expedition. Clearly, time will not allow
me much prospect of a close examination of the terrain traversed.
More important will be knowledge of Colonel
Rondon and the Indian
Protection Service.
9.
The Modern Era
Among
my interests are the USAF base
at Recife, Brasília,
the Trans-Amazonia highway
and a model private colonization scheme such
as Alta Floresta near
Aripuana. I want to get a proper understanding of developmental
challenges in the Northeast, both historical and contemporary,
and a contrasting view of the spectacular boom in São
Paulo and its environs.
I
have no preconceptions about how to approach the modern section
of this novel save an underlying sense of optimism about Brazil
and a willingness to listen and learn.
These
notes give an indication of my broad research requirements on
a field trip through Brazil.
Noticeably
absent is any reference to emotive and spiritual values —
the intangible "something" that will go toward an understanding
of Brazil as a nation and Brazilians as a people. This can only
come after many weeks of contact with Brazilians, from the impressions
they leave and the suggestions they are more than likely to
make to a stranger seeking to find out what is Brazil.
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