This article deals with travellers' writing about the valley of the Mucuri river (Minas Gerais, Brazil). It studies the elaborated representations and the imaginaire about an extensive area of the Mata Atlântica almost untouchable until the middle of the 19th century. Doctor Avé-Lallemant and naturalists Maximilian, Saint-Hilaire and Tschudi discussed two main themes. The first one refers to the Indian people shown as an obstacle to the conquest. The second one refers to the exoctic and impenetrable forest, related to the Botocudos Indians, seen as people with cannibal costumes and violent attitudes. Their analysis evaluates the possibilities of colonization and occupation of the territory.
travelers; Mata Atlântica; society and nature