George Maker Thompson decides that he's not making enough money as a pirate and moves inland.

He meets with Jinger Kind, a businessman from New Orleans. They feel that the local people are backward. Their idea is that by taking land and building roads, they are exchanging crivilization in return for their personal wealth.

Thompson meets and falls in love with a young native, Mayaris.

Later, he meets with Mr. Kind, Mayaris' mother, Dona Flora and a person called The Commander. They set about buying land from the natives and don't hesitate to use force.

Things go smoothly until Mayaris realizes that Thompson is taking advantage of her people. She dresses in a wedding outfit and jumps into a river as a protest. Dona Flora doesn't seem too upset at the drowning and later marries Thompson, herself.

Thompson represents greedy corporations in the United States that try to take over the land and government in South America, just to make money.

This was translated from the Spanish and the book was dry, without suspense. It seemed more like reading a journal or a newspaper. Many of the characters were just called by their titles so it was impersonal. However, there was the message of greed and attempting to take what doesn't belong to a corporation from the uneducated poor. ( )