Alfred Russel Wallace 



part of it (with the exception of the Island of Java) 

 had been explored, it offered unlimited attractions for his 

 special work. But as the journey out would be an ex- 

 pensive one, he was advised to lay his plans before Sir 

 Roderick Murchison, then President of the Royal Geogra- 

 phical Society, and it was through his kindly interest and 

 personal application to the Government that a passage was 

 provided in one of the P. and O. boats going to Singapore. 

 He left early in 1854. Arrived at Singapore, an entirely 

 new world opened up before him. New peoples and cus- 

 toms thronged on all hands, a medley of nationalities such 

 as can only be seen in the East, where, even to-day, and 

 though forming part of one large community, each section 

 preserves its native dress, customs and religious habits. 

 After spending some time at Singapore he moved from 

 place to pla<ie, but finally decided upon making Ternate 

 his head- quarters, as he discovered a comfortable bunga- 

 low, not too large, and adaptable in every way as a place 

 in which to collect and prepare his specimens between the 

 many excursions to other parts of the Archipelago. The 

 name is now indelibly associated with that particular 

 visit which ended after a trying journey in an attack of 

 intermittent fever and general prostration, during which 

 he first conceived the idea which has made Ternate famous 

 in the history of natural science. 



One or two points in the following letters recall certain 

 contrasts similar to those already drawn between Darwin's 

 impression of places and people and those made on the mind 

 of Wallace by practically the same conditions. A typical 

 instance is found in their estimate of the life and work of 

 the missionaries whom they met and from whom they re- 

 ceived the warmest hospitality. Their experience included 

 both Protestant and Roman Catholic, and from Darwin's 

 account the former appeared to him to have the more 



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