Alfred Russel Wallace 



Ternaie. January 25, 1858. 



I have not done much here yet, having been much occupied 

 in getting a house repaired and put in order. This island is 

 a volcano with a sloping spur on which the town is situated. 

 About ten miles to the east is the coast of the large Island 

 of Gilolo, perhaps the most perfect entomological terra in- 

 cognita now to be found. I am not aware that a single 

 insect has ever been collected there, and cannot find it 

 given as the locality of any insects in my catalogues or 

 descriptions. Tn about a week I go for a month collect- 

 ing there, and then return to prepare for a voyage to 

 New Guinea. I think I shall stay in this place two or 

 three years, as it is the centre of a most interesting 

 and almost unknown region. Every house here was 

 destroyed in 1840 by an earthquake during an eruption of 

 the volcano. . . . 



What great political events have passed since we left 

 England together! And the most eventful for England, 

 and perhaps the most glorious, is the present mutiny in 

 India, which has proved British courage and pluck as 

 much as did the famed battles of Balaclava and Inker- 

 man. I believe that both India and England will gain 

 in the end by the fearful ordeal. When do you mean 

 returning for good ? If you go to the Andes you will, 

 I think, be disappointed, at least in the number of 

 species, especially of Coleoptera. My experience here is 

 that the low grounds are much the most productive, 

 though the mountains generally produce a few striking 

 and brilliant species. . . . — Yours sincerely, 



Alfred R. Wallace. 



