The Putumayo, the Devil's Paradise Travels in the Peruvian Amazon Region and an Account of the Atrocities Committed upon the Indians Therein

"The Putumayo, the Devil's Paradise" by W. E. Hardenburg is a stark record from the early 1900s that uncovers the terrible treatment of Indigenous groups in the Putumayo area of South America during the rubber boom. It exposes the merciless abuse and human rights violations they experienced. The story is a condemnation of colonial actions and a plea for justice and improved conditions for these mistreated communities. It begins by describing the awful situation in the Amazon Valley, with a special focus on the torture, murder, and enslavement of local tribes, especially the Huitotos. Hardenburg points out how different the past Inca rule was, which valued fairness and teamwork, compared to the cruelty these tribes faced from greedy rubber companies. This sets the scene for Hardenburg's own journey to investigate the region, showing the Putumayo as a place of both incredible wealth and immense pain.