A Collision of Cultures in the Brazilian Battle Dance - Capoeira Music

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FIGuRe 1.2. São Salvador. from João Maurício rugendas, Viagem pitoresca através do
Brasil (são paulo: Livraria Martins editôra, 1954), FIGuRe 1/27. reproduced by kind
permission of the British Library.
The office of this inspectorate has been apprised that the black Capoeiras in
this city, especially in direita street, commit disturbances of the peace and
throw rocks during their games that are held in various places. your Highness
is required to arrange for security escorts, especially on festive days, so
that they can arrest all those who participate in the games as well as those
who cause disturbances of the peace.14
This letter suggests a clear distinction between the Capoeiras’ games and the disturbances
arising from them. But as regards the authorities, arrest was mandatory
in any case of disturbance caused by or connected to the games. The terms
used by the authorities were modified accordingly. The term “capoeira game,”
widely used in police records in the first two decades of the century, was almost
entirely absent in the 1830s, replaced by “Capoeiras” or “black Capoeiras.”
early in december 1821, six people were murdered, and Capoeiras were accused
of the crime. a military committee investigating the “capoeira phenomenon”
recommended that the minister of war “publicly and relentlessly punish the
black Capoeiras arrested by military escorts for disturbing the peace. We abso-