WCP599

[1]

[in ARW’s hand] Ansd

TELEPHONE 371

NORTH PRESCOTT COTTAGE

LAWRENCE PARK

BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK

Jany 18— 13

My dear Sir;

I hope you will overlook the liberty I am taking. Yet without taking it - I have no way to encompass my desire for your autograph to put in my copy of your book—Travels on the Amazon Rio Negro¹— of which I have one of the first edition copies. —

I have done a great deal of traveling - & among others thoroughly covered South America & the East [2] Indies -

Your Rio Negro book prompted me to make a pilgrimage over your trail & that of von Humboldts² I started from Manaos — went up the Rio Negro to Cassiquaire— to the Orinoco— which I ascended some days beyond the point mentioned by the great German— & then down the Orinoco to the Ocean.—

I found that [illeg.] substantially are the scientific world knows to day of the Rio Negro & of the Orinoco— is what you & Humboldt— told them so long [3] ago.—Your work ^still stands to-day after sixty years. The authoritative one on the sections you covered.—

I made five trips all told to South America— & recently brought out my book—The Flowing Road³— which is not at all scientific— merely the story of a sportsman who has the wanderlust— largely developed. I also brought out a book— Jungle Tales ^Trails & Jungle Peoples — as the request of my hunting & exploration in the Far East,— [4] Malaya— Siam &c—

I tell you this— my dear sir, not under the impression of it being of interest— to you.— but to show that my desire for your autograph is through [2 words illeg.] ^{field experience} prompted by admiration of your great work.

I shall be grateful if ^you feel inclined to grant my request & in any event— I beg you will accept my salutations & earnest hope - that your life will be extended— many years yet—

Sincerely | Caspar Whitney⁴ [signature]

To/ Sir Alfred Wallace