named tupi-guarani, these amerindians lived of hunting and fishing in the rio area, and while there are not detailed accounts of their history prior to the arrival of the portuguese, their importance to the establishment of the city is well documented

to this day, many places in the rio de janeiro area are still named using indigenous words - the famous beach 'ipanema' is one example, with ipanema meaning 'bad waters,' most likely in reference to fishing.

the very word 'carioca', used today to indicate residents of the city of rio de janeiro, is derived from the indigenous word 'kari' oca' meaning 'white house' or 'house of the white man'.