Muleskinner Book recommendation #22

Malay Archipelago; The land of the Orangutan and the Bird of Paradise

(by A. R. Wallace)

(orig. p. 1869; the refered text from Gutenberg edition, v. 2008)

[Recommendation 12/2009]

These series of recommendations so far (not intentionally of course) have omitted any travel books and journey stories; This 19^th century 'travel book' (or more precisely tale from naturalist expedition) is for the replacement of the shortage. Also, we've included this far only one biography, which also accidentally happens to present a 19^th century text. (However - according to my calculations the appreciated reader could quite as well already have received recommendations from at least another biography and from few other comparable naturalist/past conservation classics. The preceding said, of course, with considerable respect for the great generosity of that undeniable, invisible, inconsolable MSW despot...and just to keep our readers informed from those tactics of coincidences and depression.).

Turning our attention for the book selection here, the Malay archipelago; We find it from general form and features having some elements common with earlier texts/books selected from the same century – fx, it was originally published in editions of two volumes like also was the earlier presented Bronté-biography. From its plain contents recommended text in this case appears quite heavy reading(at least the Gutenberg-edition available for us here in MSW and therefore the one presented/discussed), because the sheer size of the book, concise text making over 400 pages printed with compact paragraphs. Probably makes the reading experience slightly 'lighter' if checking the book from the Papua-web online edition. - from the reason that it also contains original pictures and drawings of Wallace (1823-1913). The books rather well-known naturalist classic so probably its been reprinted several times since its 19^th century publications. Should be available on Google-books as well, with most likehood.

Book itself is counted for the most influential books ever written from region it describes. As well, it's usually mentioned among the most important early scientific descriptions from the tropical regions, inspired by the Darwinist theories of the time – for the 'Darwinist' view from nature and his theory of evolution was just gaining ground in those times and had it's early supporters, Wallace among others. (Actually, Wallace with his own observations fx in this book, and also at various other writings, is often nowadays mentioned among the originators of the theory from natural selection, sort of 'co-inventing' it with Darwin. Although he from modesty, as is also claimed, didn't ever demand any honour from that and mostly refers to Darwin when mentioning the theory in this book. Anyway, they were sending letters to each other, which seems, supposedly, have inspired Darwin to publish his 'revolutionary' view and perhaps encouraged him other ways too.)

According to some views Wallace was also sort of an outsider among the (natural) scientists of the time, even among the 'Darwinians'. For obvious comparison appears the journey story by another similarly renown naturalist traveler, Henry Walter Bates (1825-1892) -on his Naturalist on the River Amazon (p. 1863). Both spend several years in the tropical jungles collecting the animal species, part of that time together (Bates is well-known from his studies of mimicry on the basis of examining that in the butterflies, generally known as the Batesian mimicry). Compared to journey memoirs of Bates, Wallace's expedition tale draws from rather more various topics; in addition to the naturalist observations and description of the landscapes/places, there's views and theories from the archipelago's geologic prehistory (them being quite correct on the basis of the knowledge he might have been aware at the time, we find it stated), descriptions from the cultural practices and also from constructions and architecture styles in local villages and, also from plantations that already at that time were cultivating various fruits and other products (like cocoa, sago-palm, etc), many of those also exported - and as well from Wallace's personal experiences on the journey (also from the troubles and obstacles like occurring diseases, fx).

According to later view (apparently) it seems stated that although Wallace didn't receive much public acclaim or not wished to take too much part for that hotly debated question of the time (from theory of evolution), his views in this book made established the general concepts from the natural history and evolution of the particular species found on different islands at the archipelago. Since the islands present from animal variety and nature the 'Asian' and 'Australasian parts, divided by 'deep sea line', it has everafter that usually carried the naming 'Wallace's Line' (or the Wallacea line). – That being only a general (limited) summary from the main thesis in the book, which, besides, also discusses the earlier mentioned assumptions from geologic prehistory of the archipelago. Related to preceding, Wallace's collection from animals is often praised among most 'complete' natural historic collections in museums (containing birds, insects, beetles, etc from the journey described in book.)

From historical backgrounds we can briefly notice that already in the time when Wallace was making his journeys (1850s and 1860s) we find the archipelago been under ongoing change, although probably it perhaps was bit less directly affected by colonial politics of the time than some other areas (like the India, China, fx). Region probably remained far longer as remote district (even Singapore remained rather isolated and distant part at the British World Imperium until the latter part of 19^th century) containing some smaller independent kingdoms and native rulers. Also, the population consisted from rather varying entity of inhabitants and by-passers. Likely therefore, also the nature of area remained from larger parts unexplored until the turn of 2oth century. The variety of people in region (in addition to indigenous habitants) included European colonists from several countries like Portuguese that had been the earliest acc. To Wallace, many territorial regions having later then been obtained by the Dutch and the British. Also other nationalities from somewhat earlier origin (fx he mentions the Chinese traders, ao.). Wallace comments occasionally on conflicts and various problems from robbery and pirates, and also mentions revolts against the colonial rule in some regions, but one gets the general impression from rather stable conditions on many places he was travelling, although he sometimes mentions the prevalent possibility from the emergence of unrest.

Wallace's trips were headed for exploring 'wilderness', but he journeyed from towns/ports that had been established on various islands and he casually did travel on transportation ship routes (Also, on the routes he uses, steam boats fx, were already carrying mail and transporting traders and goods between the different ports. His remarks from those give the impression from rather comfortable travels on some routes.) Of course, he spend also long periods in the villages and places from which many were less frequently visited by earlier (European) travelers (or not at all). As the typical European high-class (in towns especially) usually lived separate from the original inhabitants or the 'native classes' in the colonies, Wallace's expeditions possibly appeared somewhat more peculiar journeys for his contemporary countrymen too. On the basis of the preceding, one can then (perhaps) even consider him as a 'Darwinist adventurer', although that by most certainty would have been strongly rejected, himself finding that of naturalist more suitable description.

Contrary to these many praises from the exceptionality of Wallace's 'historical character', it can be also stated that even if he might present some unconventional persona, his writing (at least in the text refered here) often holds much of an 19^th centurian attitude (fx, about cultural differences most typically). From current perspectives, some 150 years later most of that seems just aged, if not reflecting the colonialist view. But that was my general impression from reading the book (however, fx in the final part of the book he critizes any opinions from the social conditions of 'the civilized world' approaching perfection.) Same can be said from some of his actions that seem not too much enduring viewed from our times. The modern reader fx cannot avoid rather strange impressions and astonishment from his description of hunting Orangutans in the jungle (Wallace was committed to supplying several of those for natural collections - mostly for museums, I suppose - to ensure funding for his journeys.) First he lists the various efforts to fulfill that task at Borneo, and next after turning the page, there's descriptions from his subsequent untiresome efforts to save and raise in captivity the infantile of the ape killed - And apparently not finding any contradiction in those deeds. On the light of the current conservation problems and discussions (the species nowadays having become endangered from the leveling and disappearance of its original forest habitat) his doings feel somewhat confusing, probably even more than would be the case otherways. Considering also the time-gap in between present and Wallace's times (one and half the century), it can be noticed that probably our own times and its sciences and 'methods' seem as much odd when similar periods of time have passed.

But, since there's also quite a lot more in the book than descriptions from animal hunts (mostly those are focused on birds and insects he collected) we can finally include few interesting paragraphs from its contents in this recommendation. As said in the beginning, books rather lenghty volume to read, even if the narrative touches plentiful things in addition to the main natural history theme. Here of course can only rather brief exert be presented. The selected example is from the conditions Wallace was working at; it's not presenting a general description, only from his staying on certain place, but gives us some view, anyway:

"My collecting operations here were carried on under more than usual difficulties. One small room had to serve for eating, sleeping and working, and one for storehouse and dissecting-room; in it were no shelves, cupboards, chairs or tables; ants swarmed in every part of it, and dogs, cats and fowls entered it at pleasure. Besides this it was the parlour and reception-room of my host, and I was obliged to consult his convenience and that of the numerous guests who visited us. My principal piece of furniture was a box, which served me as a dining table, a seat while skinning birds, and as the receptacle of the birds when skinned and dried. To keep them free from ants we borrowed, with some difficulty, an old bench, the four legs of which being placed in cocoa-nut shells filled with water kept us tolerably free from these pests. The box and the bench were, however, literally the only places where anything could be put away, and they were generally well occupied by two insect boxes and about a hundred birds' skins in process of drying. It may therefore be easily conceived that when anything bulky or out of the common way was collected, the question "Where is it to be put?" was rather a difficult one to answer. All animal substances moreover require some time to dry thoroughly, emit a very disagreeable odour while doing so, and are particularly attractive to ants, flies, dogs, rats, cats, and other vermin, calling for special cautions and constant supervision, which under the circumstances above described were impossible.

My readers may now partially understand why a travelling naturalist of limited means, like myself, does so much less than is expected or than he would himself wish to do. It would be interesting to preserve skeletons of many birds and animals, reptiles and fishes in spirits, skins of the larger animals, remarkable fruits and woods and the most curious articles of manufacture and commerce; but it will be seen that under the circumstances I have just described, it would have been impossible to add these to the collections which were my own more especial favourites. When travelling by boat the difficulties are as great or greater, and they are not diminished when the journey is by land. It was absolutely necessary therefore to limit my collections to certain groups to which I could devote constant personal attention, and thus secure from destruction or decay what had been often obtained by much labour and pains.“ (Paragraphs from Vol 1; chapter X)

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Some additional/co-reading

...That may appear worth checking (fx) if interested for more current topics:

Daws, G. - Fujita, M., (1999), Archipelago: The Islands of Indonesia: From the Nineteenth-Century Discoveries of Alfred Russel Wallace to the Fate of Forests and Reefs in the Twenty-First Century.

(Examines fx the present day deforestation issues basing on Wallace's 19th century observations)

Sheil, (D.), [et al], [2009?], The Impacts and opportunities of palm oil in Southeast Asia ; from CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) (Pdf)

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