inhuma in brazil

Phoebe Davis · 22 Jul 2002, 22:54 · from urth-v0207.mbox · original

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From: Phoebe Davis <meezer_gal at yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: (urth) inhuma in brazil
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:54:51 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <urth-v0207-1451 at digest.urth.net>
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A bird question - how wonderful!  The inhuma is more commonly known as the =
Horned
Screamer, Anhima cornuta.  I saw the link that Crush found but was dissatis=
fied -- I
wanted to see a picture of the bird as I wanted to see a picture of Oreb so=
me posts back.
 I found that Inhuma and Inhumas are cities or at least villages in Brazil =
- their
current weather can be viewed on the internet. Determined, I kept going.  T=
he connection
between the horned screamer and the inhuma, which I surmised from a link us=
ing yet
another google search, was confirmed by this excerpt from the
capoeiradobrasil.com.br/dicionario of inhuma or I=C3=BAna, translated by Go=
ogle:=20

<<< I=C3=BAna - s. f. Corruptela of inhuma or anhuma . [ Of tupi =C3=B1a ' =
one , ' black bird ',
with aglutina=C3=A7=C3=A3o of the article ] 1. Anseriforme bird, of the fam=
ily of the anhim=C3=ADdeos (
Anhuma cornuta ). Master Maneca Brand=C3=A3o (" I sing It of the I=C3=BAna =
- the Saga of a Capoeira
", Itabuna/BA, 1=C2=AA ed.) he adds: " symbol of the wit and the matreirice=
 , (...) the bird
really exists and inhabits heaths, charcos, lagoons, etc. The term " I=C3=
=BAna " is one
corruptela of its true name: Inhuma or Anhuma . It has the transport of a P=
eru, with long
legs and feet of great fingers, with two carpianos espor=C3=B5es in each wi=
ng, beyond a long
c=C3=B3rneo thorn in the high one of the head. Its plumage is bruno blackis=
h and black. [
Sin.: alicorne, anhima, cametau, cauint=C3=A3, cavitantau, cauintau, inha=
=C3=BAma, inhuma, licorne,
unicorne, unic=C3=B3rnio. ] 2. Name given to one has touched of berimbau, v=
ery melodioso, used
in the game of the capoeira. Touch created by Bimba Master, for rasteiro, o=
n game and
with balloons, used only for masters of Capoeira. >>>

According to the description, the horned screamer is similar to other almos=
t prehistoric
looking birds of South America =E2=80=93 it has claws on each wing (the car=
pianos esporoes) as
well as a hornlike (how apropos) extrusion, called a thorn above, on its he=
ad.  It has
been partially domesticated and used to protect flocks of chickens.  It cer=
tainly has
mystical associations for the Carajas and some connection to the game or da=
nce of
capoeirado, although links are in Portugese or non-existant.   Here are a c=
ouple of links
-the first to a photo, the second to a drawing, the third to a recording of=
 its most
astounding call: =20
http://www.stockpix.com/stock/animals/endangeredspecies/9601.htm
http://www.interaktv.com/birds/speciesaccounts/hornedscreamer.html
http://www.junglephotos.com/sounds/hscreamersound.html

After my research (it was a slow day at work) I personally believe that the=
 similarity in
name between our flyers and the obscure name of a rather prosaic domesticat=
ed bird to be
coincidence. Glad to be convinced otherwise.  Inhuman, Inhuma seems clear t=
o me.
Different of course from the night chough which seems clearly picked for th=
e species=E2=80=99
mythological connections.  IMHO of course! =20

Phoebe

--- James Wynn <crushtv at HotPOP.com> wrote:
> Joe Eull said:
> "Among the birds is the inhuma, which is:
> ...a gigantic and mysterious fowl, bigger than a cock capercailzie but bu=
ilt
> on more or less the same lines. These would take refuge in the tops of tr=
ees
> and thence utter a strange, murmurous and rather asthmatic crooning. Whet=
her
> they are good to eat I can not say."
> I tried a google search on inhuma and Brazil but all I came up with is a
> reference to a Lake Inhuma.
>=20
> http://www.net-serv.com/mcintyre/brazilian_adventure.htm
>=20
> The only link I could find on this subject was a site created by an
> elementary school teacher on Peter Fleming's book. She describes the Inhu=
mas
> as "mysterious", "said to have talons on it's wings", and an "object of s=
ome
> sort of superstition among the Carajas"
>=20
> Perhaps a book on the Carajas would yield more information. But this does
> smell like the sort of thing that would attract Wolfe's attention.
>=20
> Nice find!
>=20
> --- Crush
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20


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--=20

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