Bomba the Jungle Boy: Or, The Old Naturalist's Secret

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows the titular character, Bomba, a young boy living in the depths of the Amazon jungle, as he navigates the dangers of his environment and seeks to understand his identity, particularly in light of encountering white men who may share his heritage. At the start of the novel, Bomba is portrayed as a highly skilled and agile young boy who has grown up in the jungle, living with the old naturalist, Cody Casson. The chapter depicts his narrow escape from a deadly cooanaradi snake and his quest to investigate the mysterious sound of a gunshot from a white man—a moment that symbolizes his yearning to connect with his own kind. As Bomba braves the dangers of the jungle and faces threats from both nature and humans, we witness his bravery and instincts in survival, leading to his initial encounter with white men who may change the course of his life and reveal more about his origins.