River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana and the Deadly First Voyage through the Amazon

In 1541, Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro and his lieutenant Francisco Orellana led an expedition searching for La Canela, the rumored Land of Cinnamon, and El Dorado, the fabled golden man. The large force of mercenaries, enslaved natives, horses, and hunting dogs was rapidly reduced by disease, starvation, and jungle attacks. Lost in swampy terrain, Pizarro and Orellana separated. While Pizarro returned home in poor condition, Orellana and fifty-seven men continued into the Amazon jungle and river, becoming the first Europeans to navigate the world's largest river. Buddy Levy reconstructs Orellana's journey by interweaving historical accounts with newly uncovered details. The expedition faced constant dangers and wonders along the Amazon's course. Levy documents encounters with the river's indigenous peoples—some providing aid and guidance, others mounting sustained attacks and displaying frightening rituals. The account combines violence and beauty, nobility and tragedy, presenting the expedition as both historical record and adventure narrative.