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I am looking for a compilation of writings from early European explorers, who first made contact with tribes in remote parts of Africa, India, Australia, North America, and South America. I would be curious to learn about the traditions, quality of life, and good/bad about pre-colonial life of these tribes before they were disturbed by outside influences. Trying to google this wasn't particularly fruitful, and this lost reddittor from 9 years ago is the closest advice I could find: https://old.reddit.com/r/books/comments/7gbg2t/explorer_journals/
Hardline racist conservatives would caricature the natives as savages. Mainstream media liberals would caricature the natives as living in paradise before the evil Europeans showed up. Which is it? I'd be curious to read the perspectives of the actual Europeans who were the first to meet these people. Anyone read any books from a historian about this? Looking for some reading material after I finish my Roman history book.
Partial match: Try The True History of The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo. It's more honest and unfiltered than most narratives.
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I read a book about the adventures of Rene CaillieĢ who travelled alone in West Africa to reach Timbuktu at a time when most European explorers would not survive the tropical fevers. Probably this one. The area was under Moorish control so he disguised himself as a Moor, learned Arabic, pretended he wanted to convert, was essentially a hobo at times, very determined guy.
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