WCP4417

[1]

Broadstone, Dorset.

July 20^th 1903

My dear Poulton

As no doubt you know all about insect-collectors abroad, I shall be glad if you can let me know which country you think the best for a very enthusiastic and thorough young collecting friend of mine, who failed to get the post of Curator in the Federated Malay States (Selangor) recently advertised for in Nature. While helping him all I could I got the most recent work on the Malay States ^{Belfield’s Handbook} & was greatly struck by the splendid opportunities for a [2] Collector there, in the railroads, being extended year by year & the hundreds of miles of new roads & forest paths, — rest-houses on the mountains &c, which would enable a collector to get about easily to diff[erent] localities, & so utilise all his time. Also there are the numerous mining-camps & a good many European planters in the forest-clearings, all offering fine collecting grounds. What you can tell me is, have these regions been already well-worked by good collectors. They must be enormously rich.

The alternative region I am thinking of is Burma — no doubt [3] naturally richer, being more extensive, higher mountains, vaster forests, & being connected with the Himalayas, the S[outh] W[est] Chinese mountains, & the Malay fauna. But I fancy, for a collector, much more difficult & expensive, — fewer roads, — greater distances to travel, & probably more expensive living.

What is your opinion of these two regions from the point of view of the collector who must make his living, as well as collect for himself & observe?

Or do you know any other region, anywhere, richer & less known, — & equally accessible[.] [4]¹ I fancy the Eastern Andes of Bolivia & Peru, are still the richest collecting ground left on the globe — but expensive to reach, difficult & dangerous to travel in, & only suited to a seasoned explorer & collector.

Malaya & Burma have the great advantages of being English.

A reply at your earliest convenience will much oblige.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Prof. E.B. Poulton F.R.S.

P.S. Also are there many purchasers of Tropical insects now in England, & who is the best collector’s Agent now?

A.R.W. [signature]