001 - Preface

In the adventurous years of 1908-1909, Mary Blair Beebe and her husband, C. William Beebe, embarked on two private expeditions to the lush landscapes of Venezuela and British Guiana. Their mission was to explore and collect live birds for the New York Zoological Park, leading to the creation of a captivating book that chronicles their search for a wilderness. Mary Blair, who wrote most of the book, shares her vivid experiences, including their encounters with gold mines and a unique lake of pitch nestled within the Venezuelan jungle. She reflects on the challenges women faced in the outdoors, emphasizing the practicality of her bush attire light khaki knickerbockers, loose shirts, and comfortable footwear that allowed her to fully enjoy the wild without the burdens of traditional clothing. Following her divorce from C. William in 1913, Mary Blair continued to inspire readers with her travel writings in the 1920s and 1930s under the pseudonym Blair Niles. - Summary by Sue Anderson