258 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



much labor completed in the new city of Mauritia situated in the Brazilian 

 region of South America, by the author, George Marcgrave, a German of 

 Liebstadt. 



Just as the tower of Freiburg, which was given over to Marcgrave's 

 use, was probably the first astronomical observatory ever erected in the 

 southern hemisphere, so it is also probable that Marcgrave's observa- 

 tions of the southern stars were the first ever made in the history of 

 the world. For this reason, even if we do not take into account their 

 scientific value, their loss is irreparable. 



Fate, however, has been kinder to us in the matter of Marcgrave's 

 natural-history papers, since these have come down to us fairly com- 

 plete. 9 However, before taking up their history in any detail it will be 

 necessary to advert to a very unpleasant topic, namely, the relations 

 between Marcgrave and Piso. 



The collection of material for the present paper had not gone very 

 far when it was found that Marcgrave had written his " Historian Eerum 

 Naturalium Brasilia? " in cipher. This with other indications led to 

 the conclusion that the relations between himself and Piso were 

 strained. To the unknown writer in Manget, all the principals in this 

 expedition to Brazil were known personally ; this he tells us in so many 

 words. Also, he writes: 



From many things I gather that Piso and Marcgrave never cultivated a 

 mutual understanding, although Piso called himself Marcgrave's disciple. 



Further, this writer seems to have known of many things which he 

 alleges would redound to anything but the credit of Piso. Making due 

 allowance for the partisanship of this biographer, it does seem that Piso 

 living had appropriated to himself much of the credit of Marcgrave 

 dead. Further, it should be borne in mind that Piso went to Brazil as 

 surgeon in chief to the expedition, his scientific work being incidental ; 

 while Marcgrave went as a scientist and student, his medical work 

 being incidental. (Piso, Preface, 1648.) While in the 1648 folio, 

 edited by Marcgrave's friend De Laet, Piso gives large credit to Marc- 

 grave, in the 1658 folio, as we shall see later (De Laet having died in 

 1649 or 1650), he combines Marcgrave's work with his own, giving the 

 latter credit in marginal references only. 



In both the 1648 and 1658 folios Piso in the prefaces calls Marc- 

 grave "meus domesticus." Even if we give this the most favorable 

 translation, "of my household," it still indicates that Marcgrave was 

 subordinate to him. Elsewhere there are given a number of instances 

 in which Piso plainly means to convey the idea that he was chief of the 



9 The only one absolutely known to be missing is a paper on the geographical 

 distribution of plants. This is stated on the authority of Driesen. Corroboratory 

 is a statement by De Laet that he had sent to Marcgrave notes transcribed from 

 Ximines, and specimens collected for him (De Laet) from the islands of America 

 that Marcgrave might compare them with the plants of Brazil. 



