They were risky, and often bloody, trips organized to explore Brazilian territory in search of mineral wealth, new lands and slaves. The great expeditions began in 1554, having as their main starting point the village of São Paulo de Piratininga, the current city of São Paulo. At first these trips were called entries and had funding and support from the colonial government. Bandeiras, on the other hand, were private undertakings, financed by farmers or merchants who hoped to profit from the results of the undertaking. The motives that moved the bandeirantes were three. First, wealth: wealthy merchants organized flags to discover new mines and deposits of gold, silver and stones such as emeralds. Second, property: funder farmers used the expeditions to expand their land, increasing the territory for cultivation or raising livestock. Finally, the workforce: many trips were aimed at recapturing runaway slaves or finding Indians who could be enslaved.
colonial free-for-all
Indians were the main victims of the expeditions
– (Renato Guedes/)
TROOP WITHOUT ELITE
The expeditions had about 50 people and counted both with free men – for example bushmen who knew the region to be explored – and with black slaves and Indians. Slaves were left with the hard work, like dragging canoes out of rivers.
– (Renato Guedes/)
ARTILLERY
In the bandeirantes’ arsenal, the main weapon was the arcabuz, a muzzle-loaded shotgun that fired small iron balls or even pebbles picked up along the way. The men still had pistols, machetes, axes and scythes.
– (Renato Guedes/)
LIMITED MENU
To eat, men hunted, fished and gathered fruit. Another basic item was flour-of-war, made from boiled cassava. Food was cooked over open fires, where the men gathered to eat twice a day.
– (Renato Guedes/)
FOLLOW THE LEADER!
Known as the “captain”, the leader of the group recruited the members and maintained the discipline of the men. In general, he wore a sleeveless vest made of padded leather – called an estupil – which protected his back and chest from arrows fired by Indians.
– (Renato Guedes/)
TWO FACE
Along the way, the bandeirantes found indigenous villages. The pioneers, heroes for many people, did not make a point of being friendly: they imprisoned and enslaved Indians, who were still obliged to reveal the locations of precious metal mines.
– (Renato Guedes/)
CHEST SCAM
Wooden chests served to carry the luggage and also to set up the camp. Huts were improvised using the chests as “walls”. Bandeirantes could also group the chests in a circle, sleeping inside it.
– (Renato Guedes/)
IF THE CANOE DOES NOT TURN…
Donkeys with yoke – frames where the chests were attached – helped carry the loads. But the main means of transport was canoes. Flat-bottomed, they could navigate shallow rivers and were so wide that they even accommodated pack animals.
From North to south
Bandeirantes routes went from Pará to Uruguay
Following the course of the great rivers, the bandeiras used to start their journeys along the Tietê River, in the state of São Paulo. Heading south, some reached Uruguay. In the north direction, bandeirantes reached the current state of Pará.
– (Renato Guedes/)
1) Fernão Dias Pais (circa 1608-1681)
two) Raposo Tavares (1598-1658)
3) Manuel de Borba Gato (1649-1718)
4) Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva, the Anhangüera (1672-1740)