Henry Bates, a wonderful English naturalist, follower of Charles Darwin, spent eleven years in the virgin forests of the Amazon. In the book, along with abundant factual material and subtle observations of the animal world, the author gives many vivid paintings of the rainforest, describes the life of numerous Indian tribes, their way of life and economy, hunting for unknown animals and insects, about 8,000 new species of which he collected while sailing through the Amazon and tributaries of this most full-flowing river in the world. Almost a century and a half have passed since Bates returned from a trip to the Amazon, but the book he wrote retains interest and scientific value.