ten out of Humboldt's books. <£In one way Wallace 

 surely paralleled Humboldt — both lost a most valuable 

 collection of natural history specimens by shipwreck. 

 Q Several of the good men who had advanced money 

 now asked that it be paid. Wallace set to work writing 

 out his recollections, the only asset that he possessed. 

 QHis book, " Travel on the Amazon and Rio Negro," 

 had enough romance in it so that it floated. 

 Royalties paid over in crisp Bank of England notes 

 made things look brighter. 



Another book was issued called, " Palm Trees and their 

 Uses," and proved that the author was able to view a 

 subject from every side, and say all that "was to be said 

 about it. " Wallace on the Palm " is still a text-book. 

 QThe debts were paid and Alfred Russel Wallace at 

 thirty was square with the world, the possessor of 

 much valuable experience. He also had five hun- 

 dred pounds in cash, with a reputation as a writer and 

 traveler that no longer caused bookworms to sneeze. 

 Q Having paid off his obligations, he felt free to again 

 leave England, a thing he vowed he would not do so 

 long as his reputation was under a cloud. 

 This time he had selected for a natural history survey 

 a section of the world really less known than South 

 America. 



LITTLE 

 JOURNEYS 



97 





