382 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



explorations and collections in that interesting district. In 

 1854, accompanied by his wife, he traveled extensively in 

 Europe, and visited all the museums within his reach. In the 

 spring of 1856, with his pupils Green and Bancroft as com- 

 panions and assistants, he sailed to Surinam, penetrated far 

 into the interior in canoes, made important researches upon 

 the ground, and enriched his museum with some of its most 

 interesting collections. These came near being too dearly 

 bought, as he and his companions took the fever of the coun- 

 try, from which he suffered severely, and recovered slowly. 

 Again, in 1858-9, accepting the thoughtful and generous in- 

 vitation of Captain J. M. Forbes, he made a voyage to the La 

 Plata, and ascended the Uruguay and the Parana in a small 

 iron steamer which Captain Forbes brought upon the deck of 

 his vessel ; then, with his friend George Augustus Peabody 

 as a companion, he crossed the pampas to Mendosa, and the 

 Cordilleras to Santiago and Valparaiso, whence he came home 

 by way of the Peruvian coast and the Isthmus. 



By such expeditions many of the choice materials of his 

 museum and of his researches were gathered, at his own ex- 

 pense, to be carefully prepared and elaborated by his own 

 unaided hands. A vast neighboring museum is a splendid 

 example of what munificence, called forth by personal enthusi- 

 asm, may accomplish. In Dr. Wy man's we have an example 

 of what one man may do, unaided, with feeble health and 

 feebler means, by persistent and well directed industry, with- 

 out eclat, and almost without observation. While we duly 

 honor those who of their abundance cast their gifts into the 

 treasury of science, let us not — now that he cannot be pained 

 by our praise — forget to honor one who in silence and penury 

 cast in more than they all. 



Of penury in a literal sense we may not speak ; for although 

 Professor Wyman's salary, derived from the Hersey endow- 

 ment, was slender indeed, he adapted his wants to his means, 

 foregoing neither his independence nor his scientific work ; 

 and I suppose no one ever heard him complain. In 1856 

 came unexpected and honorable aid from two old friends of 

 his father, who appreciated the son, and wished him to go on 



