THE JOURNEY TO THE AMAZON 289 



In every detail they were original and self-sustaining as are 

 the wild animals of the forests, absolutely independent of 

 civilization, and who could and did live their own lives in 

 their own way, as they had done for countless generations 

 before America was discovered. I could not have believed 

 that there would be so much difference in the aspect of the 

 same people in their native state and when living under 

 European supervision. The true denizen of the Amazonian 

 forests, like the forest itself, is unique and not to be forgotten. 



