The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

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—XPKEFACEhave known where they were ;and my frequent references tothe groups of islands, classed in accordance with the peculiaritiesof their animalproductions and of their human inhabitants,would have been hardly intelligible. I have adopted, therefore,a geographical, zoological, and ethnological arrangement,passing from island to island in what seems the most naturalsuccession, while I transgress the order in which I myself visitedthem as little as possible.I diAdde the ArchiiDelago into five groups of islands, asfollow ;I. The Ixdo-Malay Islands : comprising the Malay Peninsulaand Singapore, Borneo, Java, and Sumatra.II. The Timor Group : comprising the islands of Timor,Flores, Sumbawa, and Lombock, with several smallerones.III. Celebes : comprising also the Sula Islands and Bouton.lY. The Moluccas Group f comprising Bouru, Ceram,Batcliian, Gilolo, and Morty ;with the smaller islandsof Ternate, Tidore, Makian, Kaida, Amboyna, Banda,Goram, and Matabello.Y The Papuan Group : comprising the great island ofNew Guinea, with the Aru Islands, Mysol, Salwatty,Waigiou, and several others. The Ke Islands are describedwith thisgroup on account of their ethnology,though zoologically and geographically they belong tothe Moluccas.The chapters relating to the separate islands of each of thesegroups are followed by one on the Natural History of thatgroup ; and the work may thus be divided into five parts, eachtreating of one of the natural divisions of the Archipelago.The first chapter is an introductory one, on the PhysicalGeography of the whole region ; and the last is a generalsketch of the Piaces of Man in the Archipelago and the surroundingcountries.With this explanation, and a reference tothe Maps which illustrate the work, 1 trust that my readers

;PREFACExiwill always know where they are, and in what directionthey are going.I am well aware that mj'- book is far too small for the extentof the subjects it touches upon. It is a mere sketch ; but so faras it goes I ha^•e endeavoured to make it an accui'ate one.Almost the whole of the narrative and descriptive portionswere written on the spot, and have had little more than verbalalterations.The chapters on Natural History, as well as manypassages in other parts of the work, have been written in thehope of exciting an interest in the various questions connectedwith the origin of species and their geographical distribution.In some cases I have been able to explain my views in detailwhile in others, owing to the greater comiilexity of the subject,I have thought it better to confine myself to a statement of themore interesting facts of the problem, whose solution is to befound in the principles developed by Mr. Darwin in his variousworks. The numerous illustrations will, it is believed, addmuch to the interest and value of tlie book. Tliej^ have beenmade from my own sketches, from photograjDhs, or from specimens; and such subjects only have been cliosen as would reallyillustrate the narrative or the descriptions.I have to thank Messrs. Walter and Henry Woodbury, whoseacquaintance I had the pleasure of making in Java, for anumber of photographs of scenery and of natives, which havebeen of the greatest assistance to me. ^Iv. William WilsonSaunders has kindly allowed me to figure the curious hornedflies ;and to Mr. Pascoe I am indebted for a loan of two of thevery rare Longicorns which appear in the plate of Borneanbeetles. All the other s^Decimens figured are in my owncollection.As the main object of all my journeys was to obtain specimensof natural history, both for my private collection and to suj^plyduplicates to museums and amateurs, I will give a generalstatement of the number of specimens I collected, and whichreached home in good condition. I must premise that I

;PREFACExiwill always know where <strong>the</strong>y are, and in what direction<strong>the</strong>y are going.I am well aware that mj'- book is far too small for <strong>the</strong> extent<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subjects it touches upon. It is a mere sketch ; but so faras it goes I ha^•e endeavoured to make it an accui'ate one.Almost <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> narrative and descriptive portionswere written on <strong>the</strong> spot, and have had little more than verbalalterations.<strong>The</strong> chapters on Natural History, as well as manypassages in o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work, have been written in <strong>the</strong>hope <strong>of</strong> exciting an interest in <strong>the</strong> various questions connectedwith <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> species and <strong>the</strong>ir geographical distribution.In some cases I have been able to explain my views in detailwhile in o<strong>the</strong>rs, owing to <strong>the</strong> greater comiilexity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject,I have thought it better to confine myself to a statement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>more interesting facts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problem, whose solution is to befound in <strong>the</strong> principles developed by Mr. Darwin in his variousworks. <strong>The</strong> numerous illustrations will, it is believed, addmuch to <strong>the</strong> interest and value <strong>of</strong> tlie book. Tliej^ have beenmade from my own sketches, from photograjDhs, or from specimens; and such subjects only have been cliosen as would reallyillustrate <strong>the</strong> narrative or <strong>the</strong> descriptions.I have to thank Messrs. Walter and Henry Woodbury, whoseacquaintance I had <strong>the</strong> pleasure <strong>of</strong> making in Java, for anumber <strong>of</strong> photographs <strong>of</strong> scenery and <strong>of</strong> natives, which havebeen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greatest assistance to me. ^Iv. William WilsonSaunders has kindly allowed me to figure <strong>the</strong> curious hornedflies ;and to Mr. Pascoe I am indebted for a loan <strong>of</strong> two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>very rare Longicorns which appear in <strong>the</strong> plate <strong>of</strong> Borneanbeetles. All <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r s^Decimens figured are in my owncollection.As <strong>the</strong> main object <strong>of</strong> all my journeys was to obtain specimens<strong>of</strong> natural history, both for my private collection and to suj^plyduplicates to museums and amateurs, I will give a generalstatement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> specimens I collected, and whichreached home in good condition. I must premise that I

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