Knowing to navigate is necessary:

rowers and indigenous pilots on the Philosophical Journey through the Portuguese Amazon (1783-1792)

Abstract

This study aims to address the performance of indigenous rowers and pilots in the legacy documentation of Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira’s Philosophical Voyage through the Portuguese Amazon (1783-1792). Although the naturalist's collection has been extensively studied, it is considered necessary to deepen the analysis of the active presence of local collaborators, especially indigenous peoples, in the daily routine of the expedition. In contact with the scientist in the field, indigenous rowers and pilots put their knowledge, skills and techniques into use and, consequently, into circulation. The central argument is that the indigenous people responsible for rowing and piloting the boats mastered knowledge about traveling along rivers that could not be overlooked by travelers in the field. They also had their own work organization logics, which were maintained even in the face of a control situation. If it was not feasible to start the journey without resorting to indigenous knowledge and work, it was also not possible to silence their protagonism in the documentations.