Introduction Richard Schomburgk's Travels in British Guiana 1840-1844 was first published in German by the Publishing House of J.J. Weber in 1847. In 1922 it was translated by Walter E. Roth and published by the Daily Chronicle Limited. It was re-publish
Translator's preface
Some thirty years ago, when strolling along the ponds in the Queensland Botanic Gardens, Brisbane, I gazed in wonder and awe at the lovely Victoria Regia lilies which just happened to be in bloom: I never dreamed in those days that I should live to visit their native home in the reaches of the upper Rupununi River. It was the first occasion that gave me the name of Schomburgk, their discoverer, which thus fixed itself upon my memory for all time.
Twenty years later, whilst annotating the literature bearing on Guianese Ethnography, I had the pleasure of perusing in the original, Richard Schomburgk's Travels, and was at a loss to understand how much a monumental, so interesting, and valuable a work, had become forgotten as it were, and had never been "done into English", since it deserves to rank with the highest works on South America travel and adventure.
On the other hand I regret to admit that almost every subsequent writer on Guiana has stolen more or less of the subject matter without acknowledgement. I read the work a second time, as few can escape doing, who taste of its delights, and was determined that as soon as circumstances permitted I would try to convey some of the enjoyment and instruction that I have derived, to others favoured with less linguistic advantages - surely the Creoles will be anxious to learn something reliable about the autochthonous natives, the geology, mineralogy and general natural history of their own country , set out as these are in as attractive a form as Waterton's Wanderings or Defoe's immortal though mythical Robinson Crusoe.
The translation itself has occupied the whole of my time that could be spared from official duties during the past eighteen months. It would be idle to deny that I have met with many and many a difficult passage, but these have been invariably cleared up by my friend, Rev J.B. Biezer, S.J of the Santa Rosa Mission, Moruka River, who has invariably and most ungrudgingly rendered me most valuable assistance and encouragement.
The original work consists of three volumes, the first and second of which are devoted to the narrative of the Travels proper: the third is practically a catalogue of the fauna and flora, compiled by various well-known specialists. As a large proportion of the names in this compendium are obsolete, as well as for other reasons, a translation of the third volume has not been considered desirable. So again, the Appendix to the second volume, consisting of a few short vocabularies and an extract from Missionary Quandt's Arawak Grammer have likewise been omitted.
With a view to bringing Schomburgk's record up to date, I have been in direct communication with the following three gentlemen whose authority in their respective lines of research is unassailable - Mr E.E Winter, B.Sc., Government Geological Surveyor, has thus supplied me with certain foot-notes (E.E.W.) relative to the geology and mineralogy; Dr. F.G. Rose, Government Bacteriologist, has similarly given me valuable information (F.G.R.) with regard to Medicine and Sanitation, while Mr James Rodway, F.L.S., the Curator of the Museum and our Colony's Historian (J.R.) has made many a sacrifice of time, labour and patience in searching up the latest references to the natural history and antiquities.
I have also to thank my son, Mr Vincent Roth, (V.R.) Warden and Government Surveyor at Arakaka, for the thankless task of typing the whole MSS for the printer. Strange to say the greatest portion of the typing was done in his boat whilst travelling, or at night in camp, often to the huge wonder, and occasionally to the terror of unsophisticated Indians who had never seen a typewriter before: many of them descendants of those actually described in the subject matter.
For a succinct account of the labours of the brothers Schomburgk, I would refer the reader to the very interesting and instructive article, "The Schomburgks in Guiana" by Mr James Rodway, F.L.S. published in Timehri Vol. III., New Series 1889.
Walter E. Roth
Georgetown
July, 1920
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
TO THE FIRST VOLUME
While submitting herewith to the Public the results obtained during my stay in a part of South America so important from an ethnographical, zoological and botanical point of view, I feel myself forced, both for my own and the reader's sake, to preface them with a few words of introduction. Herein I would venture to mention most submissively not only the debt of gratitude, expressed with the greatest reverence, for the high honour whereby, through the support granted by His Majesty, Our Most Gracious King, that liberal-minded patron of the sciences, I was able to gratify the wish dearest to my heart that I had cherished from youth to maturity, but also to indicate the standpoint from which my book is to be reviewed, rather than to have it judged on an arbitrary basis.
The results obtained in almost all departments of the several branches of Natural Science in the course of the travels undertaken by my brother, Robert Schomburgk, under the direction of the Royal Geographical Society of London during the years 1835-1839, in a part of South America, which up to then was as good as unknown, - so far as concerned its geographical, ethnographical, botanical and zoological relationship with the whole of the rest of the Continent, - had attracted the attention of men of learning in the homeland. This was particularly the case with one whose name like a guiding star will lead the way in Science for all time, and through whose friendly consideration I was enabled with my slender resources, to add my contribution to the knowledge of the surface-structure of our planet though only as a collector of material for the further study of the subject.
When my brother, entrusted with a fresh Commission by Her Majesty the Queen of England, returned to the field of his former labours, it was Alexander von Humboldt through whose means I received the assistance from Our Most Gracious Sovereign, that enabled me to accompany him to Guiana, and there, with its numerous treasures, for the most part still undescribed, do the best I could in the interests of our National Scientific Institute.
And although, conscious of my weakness, and in spite of the want of a scientific training, I have ventured to make my observations public, the necessary pluck was due to the encouragement and sacrificing support rendered me by men of learning as I realize only too well the claims that Science makes on works of this kind, and that I am the last person to satisfy them. The fact is, that as a gardener I was not familiar with every essential scientific problem connected with the branches of Natural Knowledge foreign to my profession, and that whatever success I may have achieved was gained as the result of direct experience with Nature, the most stimulating of teachers, and of the earnest determination to understand and learn to grasp everything that she put in my way. The reader must take these observations into consideration when passing judgment on my feeble efforts.
I am deeply indebted to my brother, and owe it to him if my labours should prove to be successful. I have to thank him also for the most important portion of the work under discussion, the wearisome labour of several; he drew this under his Commission with the British Government, and when the latter left it for him to print, readily handed it over to me for publication.
No one realises better than myself that I have been far from reaching the goal proposed at the commencement of my journey, and that my earnest intentions have been only partially fulfilled. The judgment of the critics, who are not always impartial, entirely corresponds with my own personal dissatisfaction in this case, but the knowledge of having honestly striven towards my object through thick and thin is sufficient consolation for me.
Added to the simple description of what I noted and observed very carefully in the course of my journey is a feeble attempt at a Fauna and Flora of the Colony, in the compilation of which I have trusted my own judgment only after having had it confirmed by the mature experience of others. The inclusion of this material is entirely due to the energetic support of men who, with their courteous assistance and gentle but stimulating advice, have not only encouraged me in the attempt, but at the same time have unselfishly and readily supplied me with their own descriptions of the new forms met with in my zoological and botanical collections. I feel bound to express my thanks publicly and particularly to Dr Klotzsch, Professors Johannes Miller, Ehrenberg, Erichson, Dr Troschel, Mr Cabanis and others, who have helped me so wholeheartedly in the undertaking.
And so, with the most graciously granted permission and the most respectful expression of thanks, I place my poor work not only at the foot of His Majesty's throne, but also hand it over to the consideration of the public in the trust that they will judge it by no other standard than that which is in correspondence with the position in life that I have followed in the past, and which I occupy at present.