Alfred Russel Wallace 



The utter lack of initiative, or even ordinary interest, in 

 making the most of the opportunities lying at hand, struck 

 him again and again as he went from place to place and 

 was entertained hospitably by hosts of various nationalities ; 

 until at times the impression is conveyed that apart from his 

 initial interest as a naturalist, a longing seized him to arouse 

 those who were primarily responsible for these conditions out 

 of the apathy into which they had fallen, and to make them 

 realise the larger pleasure which life offers to those who 

 recognise the opportunities at hand, not only for their own 

 advancement but also for the benefit of those placed under 

 their control. All of which we find happily illustrated 

 during his visit to Sarawak, in the Malay Archipelago. 



The whole of these four years was crowded with valuable 

 experiences of one sort and another. Some of the most toil- 

 some journeys proved only a disappointment, while others 

 brought success beyond his most sanguine dreams. At the 

 end of two years it was agreed between himself and Bates 

 that they should separate, Wallace doing the northern parts 

 and tributaries of the Amazon, and Bates the main stream, 

 which, from the fork of the Kio Negro, is called the Upper 

 Amazon, or the Solimoes. By this arrangement they were 

 able to cover more ground, besides devoting themselves to 

 the special goal of research on which each was bent. 



In the meantime, Wallace's younger brother, Herbert, 

 had come out to join him, and for some time their journeys 

 were made conjointly; but finding that his brother was 

 not temperamentally fitted to become a naturalist, it was 

 decided that he should return to England. Accordingly, they 

 parted at Barra when Wallace started on his long journey up 

 the Kio Negro, the duration of which was uncertain ; and it 

 was not until many months after the sad event that he heard 

 the distressing news that Herbert had died of yellow fever on 

 the eve of his departure from Para for home. Fortunately, 



28 



