An interesting 18th-century manuscript
In the 18th century, a manuscript was presented in Lima. It was entitled Nuevo sistema de navegar por los aires , drawn from observations of the nature of flight, proposed a theoretical and experimental treatise supporting the possibility of human flight through a machine.
Print 4 - New system to navigate through the air ([1763]) by Santiago de CárdenasNational Library of Peru
The author
Santiago de Cárdenas (Callao, ca. 1726 - Lima, 1766) was born and lived in the Viceroyalty of Peru. From a very young age, he was fascinated by the flight of birds and insects, and despite a lack of formal education
Fig. 1 / Fig.2 - New system to navigate through the air ([1763]) by Santiago de CárdenasNational Library of Peru
Observing the currents
In those days, ships used sails to take advantage of the wind and move without rowing. In the same way, he observed that frigates, large birds, took advantage of the currents and glided almost without flapping their wings.
A tour of the ports
He travelled the ports from Arica to Panama, until in 1746, when Lima suffered a devastating earthquake and tidal wave that wiped out Callao and destroyed the ship he was working on. Fortunately, he was one of the few people who survived, after which he moved to Lima.
Print 4 - New system to navigate through the air ([1763]) by Santiago de CárdenasNational Library of Peru
Not only an inventor
In Lima, he became a milliner, mechanic and inventor. He continued to devote himself to birdwatching, especially observing condors. He says that, to watch them more closely, he lay naked on the ground and placed raw meat around him. Furthermore, he would go to see them in Amancaes.
The Bird Observer
He said that, in order to observe them more closely, he lay naked on the ground and placed raw meat around them. He also went to see them at Las Lomas de Amancaes, a natural area in Lima that arises from the meeting of the coastal foothills and the winter fog.
Santiago's observations
The author's notes and drawings were unparalleled. For many years he carefully observed the behaviour and anatomy of birds. So much so that his notes were more complete than the incipient ornithological studies of the time in Europe.
Print 3 - New system to navigate through the air ([1763]) by Santiago de CárdenasNational Library of Peru
The wings to fly
Santiago managed to understand the functions of the parts of a bird's body in order to fly. On the wings, he noticed that the leading edge serves to cut through the air. Meanwhile, the primary feathers help birds stay in the air.
The birdwatching
He observed that the tail serves as a rudder to signal direction, and that moving the legs and head allows them to rise and fall. He also dissected dead birds to study them.
A message for the king and viceroy
Santiago finally wrote up his study and proposal for a machine for human flight. In 1761, he sent it to the viceroy asking for permission and money to build his machine. Due to his rejection, the following year he sent the document with corrections, but met with the same fate.
The changes in thinking
The viceroy consulted about this work with Francisco Antonio Cosme Bueno y Alegre, doctor and senior cosmographer of the Viceroyalty. Showing prejudice against Santiago's self-taught training, his report noted that human flight was possible, but not through "that" proposal.
The simple language
The text outlines a form of dialogue between the teacher (condor) and the pupil (author) during which there are some examples provided to make it didactic.
In this document, Santiago said: ‘With my intellect I could soar - and fly - among the highest peaks, if envious poverty did not pull me down’.
Santiago through time
In 1878, the work was partially published in Chile. Years later, Ricardo Palma published his tradition: Santiago volador (Flying Santiago). In 1937, the Peruvian Air Force also made a transcription of this text. In 1959, Julio Ramón Ribeyro published Vida y pasión de Santiago el pajarero (The Life and Passion of Santiago the Birdman).
A constant inspiration
Contemporary authors continue analyzing Santiago's work
Explaining the life of the inventor to children
In another line of work, the National Library of Peru has published a children's book about the work of this inventor.
National Library of Peru. (September 4, 2020). Podcast Our memory Our history. The discovery of a mysterious manuscript [Video]. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPsvgB0Pz5E
Chirif, M. (2021). Sail through the air. Lima: National Library of Peru.
https://bpdigital.bnp.gob.pe/info/navegar-por-los-aires-00680174
Paredes, J. (November 7, 2019). Santiago de Cárdenas: Memoirs of a misunderstood genius. Trade. https://elcomercio.pe/eldominical/ciencia/navegar-por-los-aires-libro-dedicado-a-santiago-de-cardenas-noticia/?ref=ecr
Indian Studies Project. (s.f.). Santiago de Cárdenas Library. http://estudiosindianos.org/biblioteca-indiana/biblioteca-santiago-de-cardenas/
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