SOUTH FROM THE SPANISH MAIN

This is the second volume in the Great Explorers Series conceived by Viljalmur Stefansson. It covers the exploration of South America from its first sightings by Columbus to the scientific treks earlier this century. Necessarily, only the cream is skimmed from the journals, logs and memoirs available, and literally hundreds of original explorations are ignored due to lack of written records. However, this is less a presentation of complete documents than a vast skein of quotations from firsthand observers and explorers. The motives of the Conquistadores and first explorers were often far from laudable and their treatment of the indigeaet was notably abominable. The scientific investigation of South America did not begin until the eighteenth century and after the continent was dappled with blood. The writings of several lesser known explorers are here included.