Natural- History Collectors. 5657 



and bring me back, and assist me in getting a house, &c., there ; and 

 he goes at the very time I want to leave. I have also friends here 

 with whom I can leave all the things I do not want to take with me. 

 All these advantageous circumstances would probably never be com- 

 bined again ; and were I to refuse this opportunity I might never go 

 to Arm at all, which, when you consider it is the nearest place to 

 New Guinea where I can stay on shore and work in perfect safety, 

 would be much to be regretted. What I shall get there it is impos- 

 sible to say. Being a group of small islands, the immense diversity 

 and richness of the productions of New Guinea will of course be 

 wanting ; yet I think I may expect some approach to the strange and 

 beautiful natural productions of that unexplored country. Very few 

 naturalists have visited Ami. One or two of the French discovery- 

 ships have touched at it. M. Payen, of Brussels, was there, but stayed 

 probably only a few days ; and I suppose not twenty specimens of its 

 birds and insects are positively known. Here, then, I shall have 

 tolerably new ground, and if I have health I shall work it well. I 

 take three lads with me, two of whom can shoot and skin birds. 



A. R. Wallace. 



Mr. EL W. Bates.* — Ega, Upper Amazons, May 30, 1856. I received 

 your last of the 7th of January by this month's steamer, as well as the 

 parcel sent at the same time : it was a happy day for me, as I had not 

 received any periodicals or new books since May, 1855; for the last 

 parcel, sent in September, is not yet to hand, and I have no doubt it 

 is detained at Para. You, in England, in the midst of books and in- 

 tellectual treasures, — in fact, bored by their profusion, — cannot form 

 any idea of the luxury of receiving, in these savage solitudes, such a 

 parcel. 



You say you like my descriptions of the country, &c, and would be 

 glad of accounts of my daily excursions, captures, the natives, &c. 

 There is not so much variety of ground and scenery in this country as 

 you doubtless imagine, and the hunting districts are very much cir- 

 cumscribed. Ega is situated on a point of land formed by the junction 

 of a small tributary with the river Teffe, and is about eight miles 

 distant from the Amazons. The Teffe, at Ega, is six miles broad, 

 without islands : the tributary (which has no name, being simply called 

 the "Igarape," or creek, from " Igara," canoe, and u pe," path) is a 



* Communicated by Mr. P\ Bates. 



xv. 2 s 



