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Wanderings in the Great Forests of Borneo
This volume offers a vivid descriptive record of the natural environment of Borneo before the impact of modern development as seen through the eyes of a dedicated Italian botanist. Based on detailed notes and diaries kept by the author during his three visits to Borneo between 1865 and 1877,
the work depicts the diverse flora, fauna, and topography of this relatively unspoiled region.
the work depicts the diverse flora, fauna, and topography of this relatively unspoiled region.
452 pages, Hardcover
Published January 22, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2017
Beccari was an active naturalist in the second half of the 19th century. A contemporary of Darwin, Hooker and James Brooke, he carried out extensive explorations and collected widely. Numerous species were named after him.
This book documents his travels in Sarawak and Brunei on the island of Borneo during the period 1865 - 1878, although the book was written forty years later. His visits to some areas follow those of Alfred Wallace by only 10 to 15 years.
The content describes his travels through various parts of Borneo, detailing the logistics, the people he met, the travel conditions, the weather and incidents along the way. One cannot help but be struck by the difficulties of travel in many areas and the hardships he and his guides had to endure to complete the trips. While the local peoples, mostly Dyaks, were able to assist with their knowledge of river travel, the quick erection of rain-proof huts and foraging for food, even they suffered greatly. He mentions insects as being so thick that they were unable to sleep some nights. Due to the wet, most of the travel was done in bare feet (sometimes Beccari wore light canvas shoes). Surprisingly, if it was continuously wet, even the Dyak's feet would soften and many would be unable to travel after three days.
Beccari describes the flora and the fauna he encountered during the trips, that being the primary objective of his travels. All known species are identified with the binomial name in use at that time. Occasionally, he supplies an English common name, but frequently supplies the local name. To really understand his descriptions, one needs to have the web handy to look up the binomial. While his knowledge of Asian plants and animals is clearly very great, he often describes species that are new to him and presumably new to science at that time. The Dyaks tended to use a two word identifier for plants and animals, the first representing a type while second being a modifier indicating a specific animal - a system very much akin the the Linnaean system now in use in modern science, but probably predating it.
An excellent read, immersing the reader in a time when exploration was still uncovering the diversity of life on earth.
This book documents his travels in Sarawak and Brunei on the island of Borneo during the period 1865 - 1878, although the book was written forty years later. His visits to some areas follow those of Alfred Wallace by only 10 to 15 years.
The content describes his travels through various parts of Borneo, detailing the logistics, the people he met, the travel conditions, the weather and incidents along the way. One cannot help but be struck by the difficulties of travel in many areas and the hardships he and his guides had to endure to complete the trips. While the local peoples, mostly Dyaks, were able to assist with their knowledge of river travel, the quick erection of rain-proof huts and foraging for food, even they suffered greatly. He mentions insects as being so thick that they were unable to sleep some nights. Due to the wet, most of the travel was done in bare feet (sometimes Beccari wore light canvas shoes). Surprisingly, if it was continuously wet, even the Dyak's feet would soften and many would be unable to travel after three days.
Beccari describes the flora and the fauna he encountered during the trips, that being the primary objective of his travels. All known species are identified with the binomial name in use at that time. Occasionally, he supplies an English common name, but frequently supplies the local name. To really understand his descriptions, one needs to have the web handy to look up the binomial. While his knowledge of Asian plants and animals is clearly very great, he often describes species that are new to him and presumably new to science at that time. The Dyaks tended to use a two word identifier for plants and animals, the first representing a type while second being a modifier indicating a specific animal - a system very much akin the the Linnaean system now in use in modern science, but probably predating it.
An excellent read, immersing the reader in a time when exploration was still uncovering the diversity of life on earth.
September 14, 2008
Beccari miss some detail or may be he heard from someone else. However it is always interesting to read classic piece as this one.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews