Known primarily for later smuggling rubber seeds to British colonies, Wickham’s account in this volume focuses on his earlier South American travels. His narrative reflects a British colonial lens, emphasizing the commercial potential of the region's resources.
A French explorer and physician, Crevaux’s section offers a more scientific and ethnographic approach. His "Relatos de viaje" are noted for detailed observations of indigenous cultures and the river's complex ecology. Review and Critical Reception El Orinoco en dos direcciones: Relatos de viaje...
El Orinoco en dos direcciones: Relatos de viaje de Sir Henry Alexander Wickham 1869-1870 y Jules Crevaux 1880-1881 Miguel Angel Perera Publication Year Publisher Organización Orinoco, Venezuela Page Count Known primarily for later smuggling rubber seeds to
The work juxtaposes the narratives of an English explorer and a French doctor-naturalist, providing a "two-way" view of the river's basin during the late 19th century: His "Relatos de viaje" are noted for detailed
Reviews of the physical 1988 edition (published by Organización Orinoco) highlight its solid production, featuring clean cloth boards and gilt titling.
Critically, the book is valued by historians and geographers as a "documentary treasure" that bridges 19th-century exploration with modern regional study.
The "two directions" mentioned in the title refer not just to the river's flow, but to the divergent motivations (mercantile vs. scientific) that defined European exploration of the Amazonian frontiers. Full Title