Specifically, it is a bunch of letters from Lionel to his wife about his day to day life as a Chokinos (which literally translated means warrior) in the Amazon. Mostly, he would talk about the what fights he got into that day, how much respect he earned from the locals, and generally how great it was to finally fulfill his dream. Because bringing a camera would upset the natives, occasionally he would have woodcuts commissioned and send them back, but that was a rarity. Mrs. Sherman always looked forward to the letters - it meant another week she knew her husband was not dead, or worse - that he had lost some respect.