Zusammenfassung In 1834-5 two British naval officers travelled across the Andes and down the Amazon. Their objective was to explore the river Pachitea in Peru and evaluate its potential as a gateway to the Atlantic. This account, published in 1836, includes fascinating information about the indigenous peoples they encountered.

Autorentext

William Smyth earned a Ph.D. in atmospheric physics at the University of Toronto in 1990, and is today a professor of physical oceanography at Oregon State University. He has taught courses on atmospheric dynamics, climate change, fluid mechanics, descriptive oceanography, geophysical waves, instabilities and ocean turbulence both in the US and abroad. He has published two books and over 70 peer-reviewed research papers. When not doing science, he performs in rock bands.

Klappentext

During 1834-5 the British naval officer and artist William Smyth (1800-77) and his fellow officer Frederick Lowe (1811-47) went on an expedition to Peru and North-Eastern Brazil. This account of their journey, first published in 1836, combines a travel narrative with anthropological observation. Their objective was to explore the river Pachitea in Peru and investigate its potential as a route from the Andes via the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean that could reduce journey times and benefit Peruvian exports. The tone of the book is typical of early nineteenth-century European travel literature, in that it shows the authors to have been fascinated by the cultures they encountered while retaining a deep mistrust of the indigenous 'savages' some of whom were held to be 'cannibals'. It is, however, full of fascinating details about the rainforest and its inhabitants, the colonial settlers, and their interactions.

Inhalt

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Commencement of land journey; 3. An account of Cerro Pasco, the district which contains the principal silver mines belonging to Peru; 4. Continuation and difficulties of the land journey; 5. Hospitable reception at Huanuco, and description of that city; 6. Arrival at Pozuzu and desertion of the escort and muleteers, compelling an abandonment of the plan projected; 7. Embarkation in canoes on the Huallaga; 8. Further progress down the river, and visit to the towns of Juan Guerra and Tarapoto; 9. Impetuosity of the river at the Pass of Uraquiyacu, and the passage effected through the trees; 10. Endeavours to persuade the missionary to assist in the ascent of the Ucayali and Pachitea to Mayro; 11. Account of the mission and town of Sarayacu, its inhabitants and their manners; 12. Account of the Indian tribes inhabiting the Pampa and neighbourhood of the Ucayali; 13. Departure from Sarayacu; 14. Arrival at Tabatinga, the frontier town of Brazil; 15. Rio Negro.