The city of Embu in the mid XVll century the “companhia de jesus” priests gave the Indian village its original and today known name M'Boy, Boy, Bohi, Bohu, Emboi, Alboy, Embohu.
The diversity of names given to this small Indian village where all registered by “Sergio Buarque de Holanda” due to the extension of the region where the village was discovered.
M'Boy in Tupi-Guarani means Snake. Some say that its was given to honor the Indian that saved Priest Belchior de Pontes.
In a mountaness region, a ranch owned by “Fernao Dias Pais” – uncle of the famous “Bandeirante” and emerald hunter “Fernao Dias”.
His wife Catarina Camacho on the day of 24 of January 1624 donated the property to the Jesuitas, including Indians, which lived in the property.
Catarina Camacho imposes two conditions for this donation,The cult of the “Santo Crucifixo” which the capela of the ranch was dedicated, and the festival of Nossa Senhora do Rosario.
The donation to the Jesuitas, who where looking for a safer location to continue their mission. At that time are under attack by the Indians of the village called “Manicoba”, close to “Piratininga”(A village which gave São Paulo its origin)
Once installed, the Jesuitas began setting the land for the villagers and Indians. The basic principal to this settlement was too set the Indians around schools and churches, protecting them from slavery.
In exchange, the Indians must submit themselves to this new discipline.
The direct conflict with the Indian culture was eminent.
Due to problems such as adaptation to this new way of life, at the end of the XVll century, priest Belchior de Pontes, then the director of the village took the decision to re-locate the Indians not too far away from the village.
As priest Manuel Fonseca testimonial in the book “A vida do Veneraver Padre Belchior de Pontes” this new village for the Indians had fresh water streams, so the Indians could maintain their families.
At this new village priest Belchior de Pontes began building a new church with bigger and better accommodations for the devoted and the Indians, but maintains Nossa Senhora do Rosario.
In the mid of the XVll century, the village had approximately 261 Indians, and had good signs of prosperity. Wheat, Vegetables, and cotton where just some of the goods the Indians at that time were exporting to Rio de Janeiro and Bahia by 1757.
In 1760, the Jesuitas were expelled from Brazil by the orders of “Marques de Pombal”. The church in Embu received the care of “Clero Diocesano”. In 1873 the last Indians of Embu began to migrate to bigger cities looking for opportunity. It was in the 1920's when “Duarte Leopoldo e Silva” determined the first restoration of the church.
In 1939 and 1940, Jesuita Residence and Nossa Senhora do Rosario are named as National and Historical Monuments of Brasil.
Embu is today a scenario of legends and of traditional Brazilian folklore, some are illustrated in the book “Embu- Terra das Artes, Berco de Tradicao” of Moacir de Farias Jordao 1972.
Some give you the initial steps of priest Belchior de Pontes and the Indians of Embu.
"Legend of the Snake and the Indian"
Priest Belchior de Pontes gives orders to set the steeping stone for a school in the village, coming from “Itanhaem” up the “Serra do Mar”
Until the fields of “Piratininga” on a very poor and traitorous trail, priest Belchior for days on this unexplored land found himself stuck in the “Pantanal”. Out of the middle of the forest this Indian comes to help the priest.
The Indian takes priest Belchior to his “Choca”, as the priest rests his savior leaves the “Choca” to find water for this strange white man.
The Indians wife of his savior's absence now better of health informed priest Belchior, which was not normal to the wife.
Together they left in search of the Indian which they later found dead.
A snake was seen next to the Indians body. Taken by the priest, the Indians body received honors of the church. Later to is built Nossa Senhora do Rosario on the Indians grave.
The snake that killed the Indian was called by the Indians as “M'Boy”.
(
Extracted from the book “Embu - Terra das Artes, Berço
de Tradições”, by Moacyr de Faria Jordão, Ed.1972)
“The Treasures of the Lake ”
Due to expulsion, the Jesuitas gathered all their gold and jewels on a “Tacho”, certain of prison they decided to leave nothing behind.
Down by the lake the Jesuitas began to build “Jangadas” out of banana tree truncks, with long vines the jesuitas on the other side pulled the vines attached to the “Jangada” too the middle of the lake.
When the Jangada and the Tacho got to the middle of the lake, slowly they began to sink their treasures in the murky waters.
There is a legend of Nossa Senhora do Rosario that the Jesuitas that were buried beneath the church, at some time of night, they abandon there graves and marches down the streets of Embu.
Villagers of Embu say when night falls the funeral of the Jesuitas commences and knowone should be out of their houses.
(Acervo da Secretaria de Cultura do Município de Embu)
“The
Legend of Devil”
The
legend says
that indians people did not believe the devil and the hell. The Priest
Belchior de Pontes ordered then to make a wooden, but terrible coarse
devil, mounted it in a horse and left for the city saying that they believed
the forces of the evil, that the devil deviated the men of the good way,
leading its souls for the hell. The indians exactly had not believed ,
had fun themselves to be valid it with the spectacle of rude Lucifer transformed
into knight. But then When bigger the commotion went, the wooden devil
started to put into motion itself, becoming the truth demon. All indian
became surprised and killed the devil in plaza of the M´boy and
since then the aldeados ones had believed the forces of the evil.
(
Extracted from the book “Igrejas de São Paulo”,
by Leonardo Arroyo).
“The Legend of “The Mãe Dàgua”
The waterfalls of Embu tell strange tales of a woman, “Mae Dágua”.
During the day villagers have told that strange and hypnotic music comes form the falls hypnotizing the men of the village.
A fish like tail, long dark hair, with the thorax of a female.
Bathing herself in the waterfalls she sings for the men of the village drawing them to her spell.
(Acervo da Secretaria de Cultura do Município de Embu)
“The Recommendation Procession ”
The Recomendatores are groups of devoted men and women. Which in the late hours of the night leave there houses using white cloaks singing and prying for the lost souls of the purgatory.
The Recomendatores only go out in the “Quaresma” season, They sing and pray in front of houses, in the cemetery in front of tombs, and at this time all villagers must turn of the lights, maintain silence, and pray along.
Pray to thoughs who suffer and for the lost souls. The legend says that you must not look back and the ones in their houses must not go out.
In Embu this folklore was known as “the Recommendation Procession”
Due to the seven locations it took place.
• “Cruz do Lar”
• “Capelinha de Felipe Nery Damasceno
• “Terreno do Carvalho”
• “Capelinha- now at the Ranch of Prof. Candido Motta
