1869.] The Malay Archi]^elago. 179 



a feature largely wanting in the tropical world, wliicli more than 

 compensates for the absence of Palms, Tree Ferns, and gigantic 

 Fig-trees, namely, the masses of flowers which adorn our landscapes. 

 After describing such scenery as can only be met with where nature 

 has been most lavish of her tropical gifts, Mr. Wallace says : * — 



" The reader who is familiar with tropical nattu'e only through the 

 medium of books and botanical gardens, will picture to himself in 

 such a spot many other natural beauties. He will think that I have 

 unaccoimtably forgotten to mention the brilliant flowers, which, in 

 gorgeous masses of crimson, gold, or azure, must sjiangle these ver- 

 dant precipices, hang over the cascade, and adorn the margin of the 

 moimtain stream. But what is the reality ? In vain did I gaze over 

 these vast walls of verdm-e, among the pendant creej)ers and bushy 

 shrubs, all aroimd the cascade, on the river's bank, or in the deep 

 caverns and gloomy fissures, — not one single spot of bright colour 

 could be seen, not one single tree or bush or creeper bore a flower 

 sufficiently conspicuous to form an object in the landscape." 



This peculiarity he explains by stating that it is the custom of 

 travellers to have their attention drawn to the few rare and magni- 

 ficent flowers which are here and there met with in hot climates, 

 and are gathered together and fostered with so much care in our 

 conservatories at home ; but he adds, " During twelve years spent 

 amid the grandest tropical vegetation, I have seen nothing com- 

 parable to the effect produced in our landscapes by gorse, broom, 

 heather, wild hyacinths, hawthorn, purple orchises, and buttercups." f 



And now, in conclusion, let us express the hope that in thus 

 seeking to treat Mr. Wallace's work with impartiality, and to show 

 how unprejudiced he usually is in his judgments, we may not have 

 detracted from his merits as a hterary man, nor yet from his work 

 as an interesting record of a traveller's experiences. We might have 

 selected far more " telling " passages for extracts than we have done, 

 and perhaps thus have enabled the publishers to sell a few more 

 copies of the work at the outset. But that is quite unnecessary. 

 It will bear its own recommendation in its pages, and we have felt 

 it our duty to place upon it, as far as we are able, the stamp of 

 scientific authority, where there are so many scientific novels running 

 their ephemeral course, so that every intelligent man who thinks fit 

 to give it a permanent place upon his shelves may feel assured that 

 he is depositing there for the benefit of posterity a highly valuable 

 contribution to the scientific literature of our age. 



* Pp. 371-2. t Wallace, vol. i., pp. 373. 



