LOS INDIOS, PRÁCTICOS DE SUS PAÍSES, E INTELIGENTES DE OTRAS PLANTAS1 […]: THE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO JOSÉ SÁNCHEZ LABRADOR S. J. ON THE BOTANY VOLUME FROM THE BOOK PARAGUAY NATURAL ILUSTRADO

Abstract

In this article I analyze the manuscript Paraguay Natural Ilustrado, written by the Jesuit José Sánchez Labrador between 1771 and 1776, while he was exiled in Ravena, Italy. This work, located at the General Archive of the Society of Jesus (ARSI), is divided into four volumes in which we found the author’s perceptions about the American nature from the Jesuit Province of Paraguay, where he was stationed as a missionary between 1734 and 1767. This article focuses on the second volume —which deals with Botany— and exploresSánchez Labrador’s writing through the intertextuality presented in that volume, including authorities of the Natural History in the 18th century. We also want to understand the «possession» of indigenous knowledge, related to the healing practices adopted by these indigenous peoples.