W. E. (Walter Ernest) Hardenburg
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 historical account written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the atrocities inflicted upon the Indigenous people of the Putumayo region in South America during the rubber trade, highlighting ruthless exploitation and human rights abuses. The narrative serves both as an indictment of these colonial practices and as a call for accountability and betterment for the oppressed Native populations. The opening of the narrative introduces the horrific conditions within the Amazon Valley, focusing on the systematic torture, murder, and enslavement of the local Indigenous tribes, primarily the Huitotos. Hardenburg reflects on the stark contrast between the historical governance of the Incas, which promoted justice and cooperation among their people, and the brutal realities faced by these tribes under the greed of rubber companies in the modern republic. This portion sets the stage for Hardenburg’s own explorations and investigations into the region, portraying the vast, uncharted territory of the Putumayo as both a source of great wealth and a site of unimaginable suffering.