Through Five Republics on Horseback, Being an Account of Many Wanderings in South America

"Through Five Republics on Horseback" by George Whitfield Ray is a historical adventure that recounts the author's early 20th-century exploration of largely uncharted regions of South America. Written from a missionary's perspective, it highlights the cultural, social, and religious landscapes of the time, focusing on communities minimally impacted by Western civilization. The book begins by introducing Ray as a devoted missionary and explorer thankful for divine guidance through trials such as sickness and hazardous environments. He anticipates vividly describing observations about indigenous populations, the role of Roman Catholicism, and social structures, underscoring the differences between local traditions and the Christian beliefs he wants to spread, revealing a growing interest in the possibilities for missionary activities across the continent, and alludes to an intricate relationship between faith, society, and imperial expansion with striking depictions of the Argentine Republic's geographical features.