Oregon and Eldorado

Waterways provide the structure for Thomas Bulfinch's account of exploration across North and South America. He connects the Missouri and Columbia with the Amazon through their geography and the adventures associated with them. The opening traces a Boston trading venture prompted by reports of valuable Pacific furs, following the ships Columbia and Washington. The contents extend from Lewis and Clark to Orellana, Walter Raleigh, Madame Godin and naturalists working around the Amazon.

A mountain crossing shows how much these expeditions depend on ordinary necessities. Snow blocks the route, horses need food, and the travellers must protect their papers and collections. Indigenous guides lead a renewed attempt across steep ridges to a campsite with water and grass. Intended to instruct and entertain young readers, the volume brings historical events together with descriptions of climate, plants and terrain. Readers interested in exploration can follow the practical choices behind the routes drawn on a map.