Juri and Miranha

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Isabella from the Miranha people, picture from the atlas for the travelogue of Spix and Martius

Juri and Miranha are two Indian children from Brazil who were brought to Munich in 1820 by the two natural scientists Johann Baptist Spix and Carl Friedrich Philipp Martius . The real names of the two children have not been passed down, Juri (= Yuri) and Miranha are the names of the indigenous peoples from whom they came. They were baptized with the names Johannes (Juri) and Isabella (Miranha). The two were exposed to the public's curiosity and soon died, Juri on June 11, 1821, Miranha on May 20, 1822 (both in Munich). The fate of the two children was also taken up in a novel-like tale.

The trip to Brazil by Spix and Martius

John from the Juri people, picture from the atlas for the travelogue of Spix and Martius

The zoologist Spix and the botanist Martius undertook an important research trip through Brazil from 1817 to 1820. On this trip they collected all kinds of natural history objects (animals, plants, rock samples, ethnographics, etc.). In accordance with their mandate, they were also particularly keen to research the indigenous cultures and reported on the peoples they had met, brought objects from everyday life as well as cult objects, word lists, sketches and reports. According to Zerries, Spix and Martius reported on 39 indigenous peoples or brought back ethnographics from them.

One can assume that it was also in keeping with the king's mandate to bring living children from Brazil. This is supported by the fact that this corresponded to the general custom at the time. Already in the first part of their trip, Spix and Martius wrote in a letter (Villa Rica, April 26, 1818) to the envoy von Steinlein, extracts from which were printed in the Munich newspaper, "We took a wild Coroaden [...] with us, and such also happily brought to Villa Rica. If it does not pass on the trip, we intend to bring it to Europe with us. " Queen Caroline wrote in a letter that the king had expected so much from Juri (“[...] le Roi était bien affecté here de la crainte de perdre ce pauvre Schouri [= Juri] don't il se promet beaucoup de satisfaction [...] ”) in addition, Spix and Martius were immediately after their return for a longer audience at the royal court.

Spix and Martius had planned to bring eight children from Brazil with them, but the others died on the trip (two of them on the crossing to Europe, see below). In the press at that time it was written: "... as evidence and the subject of further research, both scholars were careful to bring eight individuals from different tribes and languages ​​with them to Europe." Elsewhere there is talk of six natives who the wanted to bring both of them.

How did the children get to Spix and Martius?

Martius had the two children when he had separated from Spix in the Amazon region and was traveling with Captain Zani (a local white who supported Martius).

Porto dos Miranhas
Original sketch of the place where the indigenous Miranha (later called Isabella) came to Martius. This sketch by Martius was later used for the atlas of the famous travelogue.
Miranha or Isabella, drawing by P. Lutz (?). The inscription by Martius' hand does not correspond to the otherwise traditional facts. Both the origin of Miranha and the date of death are incorrect.

Miranha (Isabella): Martius had to make an involuntary stop of a few days in "Porto do Miranhas" to have a new boat built there and because his companion, Captain Zani, was seriously ill. The chief of the small village called himself Joâo Manoel and offered to capture rowing slaves and children for Martius, he always had warriors ready for this purpose. Obviously Martius gave him the order to do this. In a report to the king Martius compared the chief Joâo Manoel with "Negro princes who sell the prisoners made in the war to the whites". In his book about the "legal status among the indigenous people", he describes how Miranhas and other peoples in the Amazon region make prisoners of war slaves and sell them to the "whites". Spix and Martius also bought slaves to support and reported about them.

Later, however, Martius presented the events in the well-known travelogue as if he had received Isabella as a present from Chief Manoel and only accepted it to save her from certain death. Why Martius later writes under the large-format drawing of Miranha that he wrote it from “Sr. Man. Joaq. do Pacu Governador of Rio Negro “seems completely unclear. That this information would have related to the creation of the drawing seems unlikely due to the large format (47.5 × 38 cm).

Juri or Johannes, drawing by P. Lutz. Handwritten legend of Martius with wrong date of death

Juri (Johannes): In the travel report Martius wrote only very briefly: “[...] I came to Manacapurú happily , [...] Here a young Juri , from the Comá-Tapuüja family , joined the team that followed us Munich accompanies, but unfortunately, as his companion, the young Miranha, paid for the change in climate and other external conditions with her life. ”The place should be in or near today's Manacaparu (a little above Manaus ) . From a letter from the Bavarian Queen Karoline to her mother about the two children shortly after their arrival in Munich we can infer that Juri was bought for two axes and that his father was a chief who perished in the fight (see also). We learn more from an entry in Martius' diary many years later, which was not intended for publication: “When I returned from the Yapurá to Maracaprú, [...] the Factor, on his master's orders, showed me the Indians, from the I was allowed to choose one that I would show in Europe and then measure myself to educate myself about European humanity. The morning before departure, the row of male Indians lined up in the courtyard in front of the house and I voted. ”Martius also writes that Yuri's father's gaze followed him, that he had not forgotten this gaze and that he had remorse especially when Yuri died. "As [. . .] the boy died of lung addiction in Munich, when it came over me like a heavy weight! [. . .] I became a philanthropist through an evil deed. "

Trip to Munich

Spix, Martius and the two children drove down the Amazon to Belem, from where they set off for Europe on June 14, 1820 by ship. According to Martius, the trip was under a bad star because of a tyrannical captain who did not allow Spix and Martius to provide the Indian children and the living plants and animals they had brought with them with water and food. According to the travel report, two other Indians also died on the trip, about whom we learn nothing else. According to Martius, the captain was responsible for this. Spix, Martius and the Indian children arrived in Lisbon on August 23rd and went by land via Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Lyon and Strasbourg to Munich, which they reached on December 8th. The two scientists spent the first few days with the Indian children in the Gasthof zum Goldenen Hahn in the Weinstrasse.

Life in Munich

Duke Max Burg
Herzog-Max-Burg, view from today's Lenbachplatz; Juri and Miranha lived here with Spix and Martius in Munich. The building was destroyed in World War II.

Soon after their arrival in Munich, Juri and Miranha lived together with Spix, Martius, a widow who ran the household, and servants (two maids and one servant) in the Maxburg , a building that the king made available to them. The Indian children slept in the same room as Spix and Martius. Juri presumably lived with Spix and Martius in the Maxburg until his death, Miranha later probably stayed temporarily with the court master's widow Kreszenz Jacobi, who rented out rooms. Reports that Juri was accommodated with Duke Max are probably based on a misunderstanding.

Initially, both in the Gasthof zum Goldenen Hahn and in the Maxburg, many Munich citizens came to see the children. The children were mentioned and described variously in the daily newspapers. Special attention attracted the tattoo on Yuri's face, the black hair, the brown skin, the strong physique and the fact that the children could not communicate with each other because they had different mother tongues. Yuri has been described as livelier and prettier than Miranha. The age of the children was mostly estimated between 10 and 15 years, Miranha was mostly estimated a little younger. The people of the Miranhas were usually described as very negative ("ogres"), while the people of the Juri were presented as more civilized.

The day after their arrival in Munich, Spix, Martius and the children were at the royal court for a long audience with the royal family.

Since the travelers came to Munich in winter, it is not surprising that the children suffered greatly from the cold and soon had coughs and chest infections. Yuri was bled several times, which corresponded to the medical practice of the time, but he seemed to be partly afraid that the doctors would try to kill him by repeatedly drawing blood from him. But then he supposedly gained trust. Spix and Martius also suffered from the cold winter temperatures, they had to apply for wood several times.

Johann Andreas Schmeller , visited the two scientists and the children on December 27th, 1820. Juri, whom Schmeller described as a boy “with quite engaging features”, was sick at this point and hardly reacted to his surroundings, Miranha, on the other hand, “smiled very warmly about this ”when Schmeller approached her, and also gave an answer that Schmeller could not understand. He suspected she was just trying to repeat his words. Another meeting of Schmeller's children took place on May 1, 1821, when he only mentions Spix, not Martius. He describes the ritual of saying goodnight with an evening blessing that Spix completed with the children, and reported that Spix had taken the two of them to Maria Eich's church on that day , where Juri had misbehaved in the church out of ignorance. Martius' mother also seemed to be of the opinion that the children are a burden for Martius and that Martius probably did not care so much about the children (letter of January 11, 1821).

It is reported that they both played with dolls and apparently did not understand that the dolls were actually lifeless. Miranha understood more Portuguese than Juri, but Juri spoke more than Miranha and appeared more open to adults. She is reported to have "callous" behavior towards those around her. She was very skilled at handicrafts, for which the queen had given her canvas.

According to a newspaper report, the two Indian children were entertained by the king: "Through the generosity of Sr. Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, the two young Indians are fully provided with everything they need, and thoroughly preserved." But the mother of Martius worried that the costs incurred would not be sufficiently reimbursed. In February 1821 she wrote to her son: “Just make sure that you get the Indians off your neck [...] If you are not compensated for the food given to these two grimaces in another way; so I would calculate such neatly and that would also reveal that your diet is not on Königl. Invoice received [...] in all newspapers it says [...] "

death

Juri died on June 11, 1821, only six months after his arrival in Munich. Chronic pneumonia and pulmonary suppuration were named as the cause of death. His body was dissected and a wax print was made of his face to create a death mask . It has been claimed on various occasions that Yuri's head was exhibited in anatomy, but this has not been proven and is believed to be based on misunderstandings.

Death register, entry in the register: death of Miranha

Miranha died on May 20, 1822 of "general chronic inflammation of the bowels of the abdomen". Why Martius personally noted the wrong date of death (Oct. [1] 822) on the large-format drawing by Miranha is incomprehensible (see illustration).

Grave relief for Juri and Miranha, by JB Stiglmair. Today in the Munich City Museum

Both Juri and Miranha were buried in the Old Munich South Cemetery. However, the grave no longer exists. The grave relief was created by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier around 1824 . It is now in the Munich City Museum . It was pointed out on several occasions that the Indian children could not stand the cold climate, so it was written on the grave: "Away from home, they found care and love in the distant part of the world, but relentlessly in the north of the harsh winter."

The Yuri and Miranha indigenous peoples

The Juri (= Yuri also Yurí) were considered to be extinct, but individual descendants of this people could still live in isolation on the Rio Puré in today's Colombia. Their language is related to that of the Ticuna, according to Kästner it belongs to the Aruak language family, or "in some sources the Juri are referred to as an isolated-speaking tribe."

Miranha (= Mirana, Miraña) live today in the area of ​​Brazil on the middle Solimoes and on the Japura as well as in Colombia. The two populations are not in direct contact but consider each other to be the same people. The Miranhas in Brazil hardly speak their original language anymore (they communicate in Portuguese), in Colombia the original language is spoken even more often. The language of the Bora is very similar, in some cases these two peoples are also referred to as one ethnic group. Today's bora live near Iqitos in Peru , among other places .

Martius has published a list of words in the languages ​​of the two peoples.

literature

  1. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World. Two indigenous children brought back to Germany by Johann Baptist Spix and Carl Friedrich Philipp Martius . In: Journal Five Continents . tape 1 . Munich 2015, p. 78-105 ( schoenitzer.de [PDF]).
  2. ^ H. Leonhardt: Relentlessly rough winter in the north. A story. Weismann Verlag, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-88897-027-X .
  3. ↑ This is only relevant to the understanding of this article. For more see: Spix and Martius .
  4. ↑ JB Spix and CFP Martius: Travel in Brazil on the orders of Sr. Majesty Maximilian Josef I. King of Bavaria in the years 1817-1820. tape 1 . Lindauer, Munich 1823, p. 5-7 .
  5. ^ O. Zerries: Among the Indians of Brazil. Spix and Martius Collection 1817-1820 . Innsbruck 1980.
  6. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 87 .
  7. ↑ H. Thode-Arora: For fifty pfennigs around the world. The Hagenbeckschen Völkerschauen . Frankfurt / M. 1989.
  8. ↑ A. Dreesbach: Tame Wild: The display of "exotic" people in Germany from 1870 to 1940. Frankfurt / M. 2005.
  9. ↑ Dr. Spix and Dr. Martius: Letters from and about South America. Excerpt from the letter of Dr. Spix and Dr. Martius, to the royal. Baier. Envoy at the Viennese court, General von Stainlein . In: EOS . No. 94 . Munich 1818, p. 378-379 .
  10. ^ JB Spix, CF PH. Martuius: Fifth report from Brazil . In: EOS . No. 88 , 1818, pp. 355 .
  11. ↑ Translation of the quote: "Yesterday the king was very moved that it was feared that poor Schouri [Juri], from whom he would still have expected so much satisfaction, might die."
  12. ^ Queen Caroline, letter of December 18, 1820. See Schönitzer 2014, end note 20, p. 102
  13. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World. 2015, p. 92-93 .
  14. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World. 2015, p. 88 .
  15. ↑ a b c Anonymus: About Brazil . In: EOS, a magazine from Bavaria, for amusement and instruction . No. 23 , 1821, pp. 93-95 .
  16. ↑ a b Anonymus: Miscell . In: Münchner Politische Zeitung . December 12, 1820, p. 1459-1460 .
  17. ↑ JB Spix and CFP Martius: Travel in Brazil on the orders of Sr. Majesty Maximilian Joseph I, King of Bavaria, made in the years 1817–1820. tape 3 , 1831, p. 1241 ff .
  18. ↑ JB Spix and CFP Martius: Last report of the academics Dr. v. Spix and v. Martius from Brazil, Lisbon, October 8, 1820. In: Art and literature from Bavaria, a supplement to the EOS, 1821 . No. 5 . Munich 1821, p. 19 .
  19. ↑ CFP von Martius: On the legal status among the indigenous people of Brazil . Munich 1832, p. 26 .
  20. ↑ K. Schönitzer: A life for zoology. The journeys and researches of Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix. Allitera Ver., Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-86906-179-5 , pp. 68 .
  21. ↑ JB Spix, CF Ph. Martius: Fifth report from Brazil . In: EOS . No. 84 , 1818, pp. 338 .
  22. ↑ CFP Martius: Travel in Brazil on the orders of Sr. Majesty Maximilian Joseph I, King of Bavaria, made in the years 1817–1820. tape 3 , 1831, p. 1264-1265 .
  23. ↑ a b K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 86 Endnote 15, 17 .
  24. ↑ Jörg Helbig (Ed.): Brasilianische Reise . 1994, ISBN 3-7774-6550-X , pp. 183 .
  25. ↑ CFP Martius: Travel in Brazil on the orders of Sr. Majesty. . . tape 3 . Munich 1831, p. 1277 .
  26. ↑ Karoline von Baden: Letter to the mother . In: Copy of the letter from Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (ed.): Secret House Archive Munich, Prince Adalbert estate . tape 17 , December 18, 1820, pp. 384 .
  27. ↑ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World ... In: J. Five continents . tape 1 , 2015, p. 87 (endnotes 20, 22, 29, 49) .
  28. ^ H. Leonhardt: Relentlessly rough winter in the north . 1987, p. 255-257 .
  29. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 96, endnote 64 .
  30. ↑ a b C. F. Ph. Martius: Diary (handwritten) . In: Bayer. State Library Munich, Martiusiana II.A.3.4. 1862.
  31. ^ A b C. FP Martius: Journey in Brazil on the orders of Sr. Majesty. . . tape 3 , 1831, p. 1377, 1381, 1383 .
  32. ↑ K. Schönitzer: A life for zoology . Allitera, Munich 2011, p. 143 f .
  33. ↑ a b K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World. 2015, p. 90 (end note 29) .
  34. ↑ a b Anonymus: Miscell . In: Münchner Politische Zeitung . December 12, 1820, p. 1460-1461 .
  35. ↑ Anonymous: memo . In: Bavarian Main State Archives . Fm. 15,530. Munich March 25, 1821.
  36. ^ A b H. Leonhardt: Relentlessly rough winter in the north . 1987, p. 119 ff .
  37. ^ H. Leonhardt: Relentlessly rough winter in the north . 1987, p. 179 .
  38. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 92 .
  39. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 90 .
  40. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 89 .
  41. ↑ Anonymous: Miscellings . In: EOS, magazine for amusement and instruction . No. January 7-8 , 1821, pp. 31-32, 35-36 .
  42. ↑ a b c Anonymus: Miscell . In: EOS, a magazine from Bavaria, for amusement and instruction . No. 7-8 , January 25, 1821, pp. 31-32, 35-36 .
  43. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 91 .
  44. ↑ a b J. A. Schmeller: Diaries . In: R. Bauer & U. Münchhoff (Ed.): Lauter mown meadows for the reaction. Munich 1990.
  45. ^ H. Leonhardt: Relentlessly rough winter in the north . 1987, p. 184 .
  46. ↑ a b P. Pfister: Münchner Kindl. Unusual résumés from old Munich reflected in the parish registers . In: Exhibitions in the Diocese of Munich Freising, catalogs . (Death book of the parish to Our Lady). tape 7 , 2008, p. 20 .
  47. ↑ a b Anonymus: Miscell . In: EOS, a magazine from Bavaria, for amusement and instruction . No. 48 , June 14, 1821, p. 194 .
  48. ↑ Eva Bahl: Juri and Miranha - exposed to eager glances, measured and forgotten . 2013 ( academia.edu [accessed October 2, 2019]).
  49. ↑ a b Z. Pfeiffer: The exploration of the other . In: Hinterland . tape 23 , 2013, p. 34-40 .
  50. ^ K. Schönitzer: From the New to the Old World . 2015, p. 93 .
  51. ↑ B. Huber & W. Huber: Dr. Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix - a famous Munich personality . In: Spixiana . tape 16 , 1993, pp. 97-104 .
  52. ^ Munich Conversations Sheet: 1829 . Rösl, 1829 ( limited preview in Google book search).
  53. ↑ Harald Hammarström: The status of the least documented language families in the world . In: Language Documentation & Conservation . tape 4 , 2010, p. 177-212 ( hawaii.edu [PDF]).
  54. ^ Glottolog 4.0 - Ticuna-Yuri. Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
  55. ↑ Klaus-Peter Kästner: Cultural-historical and ethnohistorical considerations on the ethnographic collection of JB von Spix and CF Ph. Von Martius . In: Jörg Helbig (Ed.): Brasilianische Reise 1817-1820 . 1994, ISBN 3-7774-6550-X , pp. 117-144 .
  56. ↑ a b Miranha - Indigenous Peoples in Brazil. Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
  57. ↑ Wolfgang Müller: The Amazonian Indians. Peoples and cultures in the rainforest . CH Beck, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-406-39756-5 , p. 263 .
  58. ^ Bora Indians - Survival of a Native Culture | Page 4. Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
  59. ^ CF Ph. Martius: Contributions to the ethnography and linguistics of America, especially of Brazil . Leipzig: F. Fleischer, 1863 ( archive.org [accessed November 19, 2019]).