Alfred Russel Wallace 



much about my collections yet. Insects, however, are 

 plentiful. . . . 



Charles gets on pretty well in health, and catches a 

 few insects; but he is very untidy, as you may imagine 

 by his clothes being all torn to pieces by the time we 

 arrived here. He will no doubt improve and will soon be 

 useful. 



Malay is the universal language, in which all business 

 is carried on. It is easy, and I am beginning to pick up 

 a little, but when we go to Malacca shall learn it most, as 

 there they speak nothing else. 



I am very unfortunate with my watch. I dropped it on 

 board and broke the balance- spring, and have now sent it 

 home to Mr. Matthews to repair, as I cannot trust anyone 

 here to do it. . . . 



Love to Fanny and Thomas. — I remain your affectionate 

 ^^^> Alfred E. Wallace. 



To His Mother 

 Buhit Tama, Singa'pore. May 28, 1854. 



My dear Mother, — I send you a few lines through G. 

 Silk as I thought you would like to hear from me. I am 

 very comfortable here living with a Roman Catholic mis- 

 sionary. ... I send by this mail a small box of insects 

 for Mr. Stevens — I think a very valuable one — and I hope 

 it will go safely. I expected a letter from you by the 

 last mail, but received only two Athenceums of March 18 

 and 25. . . . 



The forest here is very similar to that of South America. 

 Palms are very numerous, but they are generally small and 

 horridly spiny. There are none of the large and majestic 

 species so abundant on the Amazon. I am so busy with 

 insects now that I have no time for anything else. I send 



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