Ivan Ratkaj

When he graduated, his superiors wanted him to teach, but they eventually granted his wish and sent him to be a missionary in Mexico in 1680.

[2] In his reports, written in the form of a diary, he described his sea voyage to Mexico, the land route to the native province of Tarahumara in the north of Mexico (modern-day Mexican state of Chihuahua) and the customs and life of the Tarahumara people.

He learned the native language in a month and moved to Tutuaca, a mission in a poor mountainous area.

His reports betray an open curiosity: he noted all kinds of details, not only of nature, but also of the natives and their life.

He presents the Tarahumara as a "mild and civilized" people as opposed to some neighboring tribes.

Ivan Ratkaj, memorial portrait with scenes of his life, 1727
Map of the Tarahumara Province titled Mappa circum iacentes regiones (tarahumaras) , [ 2 ] drawn by Ratkaj in 1683. The original is kept in the central Jesuit archives in Rome. [ 3 ]