botocudo warriors

[ace67]

can anyone tell me or better still show me in a picture
what the weapons of the botocudo look like
i have no idea how to paint the copplestone figures i
am going to get, i mean it looks like a strange sword?
please help, completly at a loss
thanks
ace67

[carlos marighela]

The weapon in question should be a wooden club. I'm not sure about that particular ethnic group but red and black were colours commonly used by all manner of Brazilian Indians for decoration of their bodies and artifacts. The red dye being found in various plants, notably Brazilwood and the black often came from genipapo which is a rather sticky fruit a bit like a cross between an apricot and a fig in shape and texture. Makes a remarkably pleasant liquor, which is usually drunk for the festas juninas in the northeast.

Try googling 'Hans Stadden' or 'Como era gostoso meu frances' for a general idea about Indian decoration.

[carlos marighela]

Hang on, I'll save you the trouble: No they aren't Botocudo but........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgWposUb4fs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz8IWqmhVKk

Both excellent films, Como era gostoso is one of my faves.  They re-released it on DVD in Brazil a couple of years ago.  If you can find it I'd also recommend Brava Gente Brasiliera which deals with indigenous resistance in the late 18th C. Great scene where after lulling the fort's garrison with an offer of women, the Indians storm the fort. Like Hans Staden it's based, quite closely on a true story.

[ace67]

cheers mate just what i needed

[Lowtardog]

A nice little descriptionj from a gamer based on the Ian Heath book

http://balagan.org.uk/war/new-world/brazil/tribes.htm

As it says they are Ge-speeking Tribes "neolithic" hunter (including humans for food) gatherers also called the Aimore.

I have around 60 done now, here were some rough shots of ones I painted a while back. I used a black base and dry brushed with a dark brown. Not being an expert painter I also put red dots/lines onto the bows and clubs as decoration.

As with the link above consider the use of the skin paint as the Botocudo were said not to paint their legs.

I would love a copy of Hans Staden (those natives are Tupi) but it is not around for sale in the UKI and I think would fetch a prety penny

[carlos marighela]

Lowtardog it's a hard film to find even in Brazil, usually what's on the shelves are dubbed American films or some shitty film adaption of a novela, even in stores like Saraiva. I was lucky to get a copy from a friend.

There are some specialist stores in  São Paulo you might want to try. These guys have a reasonable selection.

http://www.2001video.com.br/