Prologue

Abstract

My friend, an Indian from the Amazon, once told me that every researcher tries to be different and unique. He claims that scientists want the knowledge they gain and describe in books or articles to be a revelation, a discovery about the truth of people and other cultures. He summed this all up by saying it is an issue of their craft. Science should complete general knowledge, aim to fill the gaps, and enable the understanding of a subject on multiple levels, instead of trying to present data as unique or extraordinary. My friend is also one of my informants and interpreters, an expert on the Huaorani culture. Considering the above, this book reviews current knowledge about the Huaorani, adds new information, reflects on statements made by other researchers, and sometimes interprets data in new and different ways.