The Devil and the Land of the Holy Cross: Witchcraft, Slavery, and Popular Religion in Colonial Brazil

by Laura de Mello e Souza

Originally published in Brazil as O Diabo e a Terra de Santa Cruz, this translation from the Portuguese analyzes the nature of popular religion and the ways it was transferred to the New World in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Using richly detailed transcripts from Inquisition trials, Mello e Souza reconstructs how Iberian, indigenous, and African beliefs fused to create a syncretic and magical religious culture in Brazil. Focusing on sorcery, the author argues that European traditions of witchcraft combined with practices of Indians and African slaves to form a uniquely Brazilian set of beliefs that became central to the lives of the people in the colony. Her work shows how the Inquisition reinforced the view held in Europe (particularly Portugal) that the colony was a purgatory where those who had sinned were exiled, a place where the Devil had a wide range of opportunities. Her focus on the three centuries of the colonial period, the multiple regions in Brazil, and the Indian, African, and Portuguese traditions of magic, witchcraft, and healing, make the book comprehensive in scope. Stuart Schwartz of Yale University says, "It is arguably the best book of this genre about Latin America...all in all, a wonderful book." Alida Metcalf of Trinity University, San Antonio, says, "This book is a major contribution to the field of Brazilian history...the first serious study of popular religion in colonial Brazil...Mello e Souza is a wonderful writer."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Brazil, Witches, Religion

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Laura de Mello e Souza é professor titular em História Moderna do Departamento de História da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH) da Universidade de São Paulo. Fez seu mestrado e seu doutorado no Programa de História Social do referido DH-FFLCH-USP, sob orientação de Fernando Novais. É autora dos seguintes livros: Opulência e miséria de Minas Gerais (Brasiliense, 1982); Desclassificados do ouro (Graal, 1982); O Diabo e a Terra de Santa Cruz (Companhia das Letras, 1986); Feitiçaria na Europa Moderna (Ática, 1987); Inferno Atlântico (Companhia das Letras, 1993); Norma e Conflito (Editora da UFMG, 1999); O sol e a sombra (Companhia das Letras, 2006). É co-autora, com Maria Fernanda Baptista Bicalho, de 1680-1720: o império deste mundo (Companhia das Letras, 2000). É organizadora e co-autora do primeiro volume da História da Vida Privada no Brasil denominado Cotidiano e Vida Privada na América Portuguesa (Companhia das Letras, 1997).

Reviews

[Mrs. Fujiwara · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books so complex and full of important information that I am only able to finish it after an academic reading, with notes in almost every page, summaries of chapters, bridges to other similar works, etc. It was the case of this fabulous and wonderfully well-written doctoring thesis. "The Devil and the Land of Santa Cruz" is a masterpiece about Brazilian syncretism, about how our people was able to mix European, African and native beliefs to bring into evidence a genuine culture, something I immediately related to the Japanese ancient and proved characteristic of transforming what they find valid and interesting into something of their own. The author analyzes an enormous amount of primary documents, most of them Inquisition archives, and unfolds to the reader a XVI-XVIII centuries Brazil trying to bloom: still linked to the Portuguese reality but also finding it hard to follow, for example, Catholic orders when far away from the kingdom and especially when, as a colony, it was supposed to be a land where people were sent to pay for crimes. So, the study begins with a detailed reconstruction of all imaginary present for centuries in the Old Continent's mind, before America's discovery, and how the Land of Santa Cruz (Brazil's first name) was seen as a paradise and hell to visitors and Jesuits because of its natural beauty and easy ways of perdition, respectively. Then the Historian reaches my favorite point, when she starts detailing how our syncretism was seen as witchcraft by the Visitors of the Saint Inquisition. It is no secret that I am a very curious person when it comes to beliefs; I find everything truly enchanting and beautiful and by studying them - as a scholar once said - we can see the foundations of a culture. In this case, one can easily appreciate the origins of Brazil's heterogeneity when it comes to religions. All the processes and punishments held by the Holy Office were not enough to make the colony as homogeneous as they desired. And when reading so many cases one can really sympathize with unknown characters, slaves, natives, simple Portuguese men and women sent here as wizards/witches, persecuted for (pseudo) crimes such as talking to demons, making potions to hold lovers, or using herbs to cure diseases. It's a great reading, really, too dense and too agreeable at the same time. It made me so fascinated by the subject that I think I will pass the book about Japanese culture I've selected and read another one about this period of my country's history.

[CATHERINE J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for my Colonial Brazil course, but was delighted by the scholastic AND entertainment value. I refer to it often...everyone loves a good Inquisition tale at dinnertime.

[André Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma das melhores leituras do ano. Sempre bom entrar no universo das pessoas que habitaram o Brasil colonial, suas aflições, desejos e conflitos

[Nara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brazil, how it is.

[Eduardo Henrique Gusmão · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apaixonante.