This book provides a comprehensive account of the pioneering explorations made in the valley of the River Madeira between 1749 and 1868, including detailed descriptions of the geography, geology, flora, fauna, and indigenous peoples of the region. Church's writing is lively and engaging, and his first-hand observations and experiences provide a unique window into a fascinating and little-known part of the world. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the history of exploration, geography, natural history, and anthropology. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.