is likely to stand the test of time, to be read and appreciated years from
now for something other than its historical value, it is to be found in
the sensitive, poignant, lyrical writings of Loren Eiseley and Charles
Wagley.

This book has undergone several major revisions since its original
conception in the fall of 1982, and at each stage I have benefited
substantially from the patient and perceptive criticism of Dr. Robert
Lawless at the University of Florida. I have relied frequently on his
exceptional command of the anthropological literature and his keen
ability to discern subtle errors of logic and interpretation. Whatever
balance this book contains is due chiefly to his efforts.

Finally, I owe an inestimable personal and professional debt to the
chairperson of my doctoral committee at the University of Florida, Dr.
Theron Nunez. Throughout my career, he has been a constant source
of unerringly good advice and uncommonly resourceful support. He is
the person primarily responsible for having shaped my vision of an-
thropology, and the influence of his extraordinary intellect is amply
evident in these pages. As I write this, he is battling cancer with the
same courage, honesty, and inimitable style that have marked his entire
life. This book is dedicated to him with affection and appreciation.

James Lett

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