NA TURE 



2 1 



THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1895. 



on the Malay 

 the study of 



THE MOLUCCAS. 



Reisen in den Molukken, in Ambon, den Uliassern, Seran 



(Ceram) und Buru. Eine Schilderung von Land und 



Leu/en. \'on K. Martin. Large 8vo. Pp. xviii. and 



404, and volume of plates. ("Leyden : E. J. Brill, 1894.) 



THE Moluccas, the spice islands of the farthest east, 

 were the most powerful magnets which drew the 

 fleets of Portugal eastward around the Cape of Good 

 Hope in the fifteenth century, and in the sixteenth 

 induced Magellan to start on that voyage through his 

 straits which culminated in the first circumnavigation of 

 the globe. They were the most coveted lands on earth 

 at the commencement of the history of modern discovery, 

 the most eagerly sought for, first acquired, and the most 

 firmly held of the colonies of Europe. Yet while the 

 group has changed hands again and again without 

 passing out of European ownership, the islands are still 

 most imperfectly known. The system of exclusion which 

 animated Portuguese, Spaniards, and Dutchmen alike, 

 discouraged systematic exploration ; and the works of 

 such travellers as have recently made explorations in 

 the islands, are for the most part locked up from the 

 general reader in the Dutch language. In English, 

 indeed, there is the matchless work of Wallace ; but 

 this, like several later English books 

 archipelago, is mainly concerned with 

 biological conditions. 



Dr. Martin, the Professor of (icology in the L'niversity 

 of Leyden, already well known for his admirable work 

 on the Dutch West Indies, obtained a grant from his 

 Ciovernment in 1891, and with a years leave of absence 

 proceeded to the study of some of the more interest- 

 ing and less known islands of the Malay archipelago. 

 Leaving Batavia on November 3, 1891, he coasted along 

 Java, touched at Bali, visited various points on Celebes 

 and Jilolo, making such geological and general obser- 

 \ations as were possible in the limited time at his 

 disposal. On November 27 he reached Amboyna, and 

 imtil July 27, 1892, he devoted his whole time to de- 

 tailed exploration, determining positions and heights, 

 photographing scenery, people and houses, and collect- 

 ing everything that came in his way in the islands of 

 .\mboyna, the Uliasser, Buru, and Ceram. In this way 

 many places were visited which had never been adequately 

 <lescnbed before, several districts which had never been 

 traversed by Europeans, and some which even the natives 

 had a\oided as sacred or unclean. The book is mainly 

 geographical, going so far into the structure and vegeta- 

 tion of the land as is necessary in order to understand 

 the life-conditions of the inhabitants, on whom also great 

 attention is bestowed. Detailed reports on the geology, 

 botany, the birds, insects, and other collections are being 

 prepared by Prof Martin and other specialists ; but 

 here he confines himself to the narrative of his ex- 

 pedition, with numerous explanations suggested by the 

 preliminary results. 



We so often find that books of travel are flabby 

 masses of ill-upholstered padding, put together at 

 second-hand by some big-game hunter or globe-trotter 

 NO. 1340, VOL. 52] 



after his return, that we feel it a duty to call attention 

 to the admirable form and substance of this one. It is 

 of the order of Darwin's, Wallace's, and Bates' work, and 

 though based on shorter experience than theirs, is none 

 the less scientifically put together. 



Prof Martin says in his preface, that he gives a pure 

 record of actual observations taken directly from his 

 note-books and collections. After writing it, he proceeded 

 to read up all the available literature on the subject, 

 and took occasion in a series of footnotes to explain 

 discrepancies or criticise his predecessors. In many 

 respects this is an excellent method to pursue. The 

 mind is free from prejudice or anticipation, and the 

 observations bring the charm, and lea\e the stimulus of 

 discoveries. On the other hand, unless what is known 

 is previously worked up, there is apt to be much loss 

 of time which could be more profitably spent, and points 

 of the highest interest, being unsuspected, may pass 

 unnoticed. We are inclined to believe, however, that, 

 in spite of his modest disclaimer. Prof Martin had a 

 very good notion of what had been done before he 

 entered the field. Otherwise he could scarcely have 

 been so self-denying as to turn away from the people 

 of Amboyna and the Uliasser, who have been fully studied 

 by van Hoevell, Joest, Riedel, and others, and give 

 attention mainly to the features of the land. And in 

 Ceram he knew very well where the coast-lines were 

 faultiest on the maps, and the mountains and rivers 

 scattered according to the freest fancy of the carto- 

 grapher ; for there he proceeded to fix positions and 

 draw maps, while giving attention at the same time to 

 general collecting and to the study of the people and 

 their customs. 



In view of the distrust which has gradually beset the 

 aneroid when used for measuring heights, it is interest- 

 ing to learn that the result of Dr. L. S. Siertsemas 

 discussion of the numerous aneroid readings made on 

 this journey is to show that it is, after all, an instrument 

 of considerable precision for elevations well under 

 10,000 feet. 



The book is to be welcomed as the thoroughly sound 

 work of an experienced man of science, and as containing 

 a notable contribution to our scanty knowledge of a most 

 fascinating region, and of primitive peoples whose ancient 

 customs are fast giving way before the pervading 

 European influence. It suggests forcibly the importance 

 of the study of regional geog^raphy in those places where 

 the natural equilibrium of life and physical environment 

 has not been disturbed ; such places as are now scarcely 

 to be found. It is exasperating to think that the careless 

 traders and earnest missionaries who haunt the islands of 

 the sea are even- day rejecting sybillinc books, the value 

 of which seems likely to remain unsuspected, save to a 

 handful of anthropologists, until the last of them is 

 destroyed beyond recover)-. The facts that primitive 

 man must be studied at once if he is to be studied at all, 

 and that purely natural floras and faunas are doomed to 

 early disappearance from this planet, call for more workers 

 like Prof Martin, and demand them soon. The demand 

 is for educated scientific explorers such as there is at 

 present no means for training in this country. The day 

 when geographical work of the first magnitude can be 

 done by mere pluck and perseverance is almost past, and 



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