Diamond River

An interesting book, and although the storyline is not unfamiliar, I am a bit of a sucker for these books. We learn the background of the Italian authors life, progressively, and slowly, as the story unfolds.

Note- Some spoilers below - but given the apparent rarity of this book, I am not feeling too guilty.

As the blurb outlines, the author had invested all he had in his farm, only to have it destroyed by a hurricane. On the advice of a friend, he embarks on an expedition to the depths of Venezuela to search for diamonds. The first part of the book describes the exciting and dangerous expedition. It also outlines the life he makes in the Indian village, accepted by the natives to live amongst them, living their lifestyle and even taking a young wife. He befriends the chief, and the chiefs heir - a nephew, Antu, who becomes the authors companion on his diamond prospecting trips up river.
Needless to say the prospecting is successful, and with much hard work the two gather up a good haul of diamonds, along with some gold. Unfortunately, in an accident involving an alligator, Lolomai (his child bride) is killed.

It is here that typical outcomes begin. Growing tired of the isolation, and eager to to cash up, the author returns to civilisation, bringing with him his friend. They life it up in the city, Antu learning as much as he can to help him lead the village in the future, buying useful things to take back to his primitive people.

Meanwhile, the author is making bigger plans. He registers a number of massive (legal) claims for the area, and sets up a partnership with a pilot. Together they plan a massive undertaking to bring in prospectors and labourers, and run a diamond operation.

This, of course they set up adjacent to the village, which is slowly corrupted by money, booze, whores and greed. the author can see it happen, but is helpless to do anything about it. From the first moment he set the wheels in motion, there was only ever to be one outcome - the devastation of the tribe. A victim of his own success, despite becoming ridiculously wealthy (although the books skirts around this a great deal), the area is eventually overtaken by poachers, and then the police. Competition is established (ie other diamond buyers ruin the monopoly he has established, where he is the only licenced diamond buyer at the camp, and the company takes a 50% cut.) To be fair, the company also provides such necessities as medical care and security, but there are others who establish shops.

At the end of the book, the tribe make the difficult decision to leave their village, to move deeper into the wilderness and re-establish in a new location, far away from the influences of the white man, and his corrupting ways. The author also makes the decision to leave too. I am sure his financial situation makes this a relatively easy decision to make - despite his two native wives also leaving him to stay with their people (yes, he took three wives in all, which was one less than normal in the tribe).

There were a few times I was a bit uncomfortable with his writing. He was very upfront about being attracted to the young Indian girls. In the tribe, they were all married well before 12 years old, and generally sexually active from around 12 years onwards. The author gives no clear indication of his age, but is likely over twice this age. Hard not to think he is a bit of a sex-pest, but I guess he was living in the village in the same way as the tribe.

So, in all, well written, and entertaining. Four stars for me.