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Gordon MacCreagh
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White Waters and Black Paperback – March 1, 2001

by Gordon MacCreagh (Author), George B. Schaller (Foreword)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
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With a wicked eye for absurdities, Gordon MacCreagh recounts his adventures with eight "Eminent Scientificos" as they set out to explore the Amazon in 1923 without any idea of what lies ahead of them: rapids, malaria, monkey stew, and "dangerous savages." A combination of Twain's The Innocents Abroad and a cautionary tale for explorers, this is one of the most honest accounts ever written of a scientific expedition.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    335 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of Chicago Press
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    8.01 x 5.24 x 0.84 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0226500187
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0226500188
  8. See all details
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In White Waters and Black Gordon MacCreagh, with a wicked eye for absurdities, Gordon MacCreagh recounts his adventures with eight "Eminent Scientificos" as they set out to explore the Amazon in 1923 without any idea of what lies ahead of them: rapids, malaria, monkey stew, and "dangerous savages." A combination of Twain's The Innocents Abroad and a cautionary tale for explorers, this is one of the most honest accounts ever written of a scientific expedition.

From the Back Cover

In White Waters and Black Gordon MacCreagh, with a wicked eye for absurdities, Gordon MacCreagh recounts his adventures with eight "Eminent Scientificos" as they set out to explore the Amazon in 1923 without any idea of what lies ahead of them: rapids, malaria, monkey stew, and "dangerous savages." A combination of Twain's The Innocents Abroad and a cautionary tale for explorers, this is one of the most honest accounts ever written of a scientific expedition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press (March 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226500187
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226500188
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.03 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.01 x 5.24 x 0.84 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

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  1. Gordon MacCreagh

    Gordon MacCreagh

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  2. Ellen MacKay

    Ellen MacKay

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
22 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jim C
5.0 out of 5 stars Chronicles of a fascinating expedition with great insights
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2021
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The author is an astute observer of human behavior. The expedition pushed the limits with imperfect members over very inhospitable terrain. What makes this book so good is most people writing about their experiences toot their horn about how great they and their companions are. This author did not and the book rings more true than most books in this genre as a result.

A great read!
One person found this helpful
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Philip Marks
5.0 out of 5 stars great adventure
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014
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I love travel adventure books and this one is great. I thought because was written so long ago it would be stiff and hard to read, but on the contrary, it is fresh, humorous, and insightful.
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William I. Peacock
5.0 out of 5 stars How Not To Conduct An Expedition
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2002
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When your read of other expeditions and how well they were conducted, then you read Gordon MacCreagh's humorous account of a mistake-ridden expedition into the Amazon, and you may wonder how this could happen. Clearly, the leader of MacCreagh's expedition was no Roy Chapman Andrews. Too many mistakes with both men and equipment. It is a humorous, often hilarious account of how not to conduct an expedition into the Amazon -- or anywhere else. I found it to be much better than Peter Fleming's "Amazon Adventure" and somewhat better than Arthur O. Friel's "River of Seven Stars," which has not been reprinted. MacCreagh's sense of humor and keen observations are what place this book at the top of my list of exploration/expedition books. I found it difficult to keep from sharing portions of this book with family and friends...
5 people found this helpful
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jjc
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2013
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I've read numerous books on travel and exploration and this is one of the best. This is an account of the Mulford Expedition of 1921. The goal of the expedition was to collect biological specimens in the Amazon Basin. They were going to start in Boliva, cross the Andes, and then spend a year collecting specimens before exploring a new route back over the Andes.

The purpose of the book, written by Gordon MacCreagh, the anthropologist on the expedition, is to give the reader a true understanding of what such expeditions entailed. MacCreagh never uses the real names of the expedition members; they are simply known as their titles. There is the Distinguished Director (Henry Rusby), a man of advanced age and paranoia. There is also a Distinguished Botanist, a Statistician, an Entomologist, and a young, idealistic lad they call “Young America”. The expedition suffers from poor planning and bad tempers. The personalities are truly priceless. The Statistician becomes so cranky that he refuses to talk to anybody except the Anthropologist. The Entomologist is afraid of firearms and wants to give all their rifles, shotguns, and pistols away. The Distinguished Director issues type-written proclamations to his fellow eight travelers, warning them of bandits and admonishing them for bad attitudes. We also learn a great deal about the Amazon and what it was like in the 1920s. This is a great piece of travel writing.
2 people found this helpful
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B. Martyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful reading
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2008
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I came across this book in a used bookstore back in 1972. What a find. Reading this story is like no other adventure/exploration book ever written. The humor and honest accounting of the ups and downs of the journey are astonishing and the tale is so inspirational that you may find yourself yearning to travel and experience more of the world. Unfortunately I have lost the hardback copy of this book but this paperback is the same as the early editions and includes all the marvelous photos.
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William J. Higgins,III
4.0 out of 5 stars Bungle through the jungle
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2008
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Over the Andes and through the jungle to ineptness we go. A quite humorous account of science gone jumbled. But not all is lost here.

In 1923 eight scientists plus the author venture through the South American mountains and rainforests to make further discoveries in their respective fields of study. Touted as, "The most perfectly equipped expedition that has ever started to explore South America", it quickly unfolds into a blundering journey with many problems and mishaps.

Thanks to MacCreagh's sense of humor and wit we see how every imaginable incident went from bad to worse. One by one these scientists quit the expedition to forsake the author and one other to travel up the remote Uaupes and Tiquie Rivers meeting face to face with hostile natives. What transpires is a remarkable short term study into the culture of these indigenous peoples.
Entertaining read.
2 people found this helpful
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Denis Benchimol Minev
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK ABOUT AN UNREMARKABLE EXPEDITION
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2006
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Mr MacCreagh has maganed to write an outstanding book based on a rather unsuccessful expedition. It is the tale of an expedition of eight eminent scientist in the Amazon, who were put together not for their ability in the outdoors, but for their scientific knowledge.

The author is a helper/manager of the expedition. He manages to describe the expedition from its beginning in the Bolivia highlands out to the Amazon plains and to its disintegration. It is quite clear that the scientist were not sure what to expect, and so had not prepared accordingly. Huge volumes of luggage went unused and were a huge burden. Egos and discomfort made the scientist into bickering children and inept explorers. The author masks their names because apparently these were well known figures of their time.

There is a bit of scientific content in the book, but clearly the main reason to read it is for the good humor of the author in describing the situations they get themselves in. One learns more about people and how they behave when taken to extremes than one does about the Amazon.
5 people found this helpful
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Michael H Carlton
5.0 out of 5 stars Uniquely told Amazon adventure
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013
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The author relates, in delightful fashion, his experience on an Amazonian adventure that includes snowy mountains, swampy rivers, friendly "bad" Indians and the perils of a "well-equipped" expedition that was planned by men who had never been away from the city.

Great story, uniquely told. Should be on everyone's reading list.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
As a scientist who has taken many field trips, this is a great book to show you how small problems can be blown out of proportion into giant problems in isolated places when the conditions are difficult (and how some scientists can be very difficult to get along with under these conditions). This is also a great story book about life in the Amazon Basin.
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