WCP702

[1]¹

Broadstone, Dors<et>

Jan. 13th 190<4>²

My dear Fred³

I think you had better write to Mr. De Jonge⁴ telling him that you have decided to come out to Georg<etown> leaving Liverpool at such a date, & hoping that he will h<ave> some employment for you the<re.> No doubt your friend is quite right about your going out respect <MS burned> and I hope he will be able to gi<ve> you the passage, & that it will be not later than the latter part of Feb. as that seems to be a good month. Do not be afraid about the climate & being acclimatized. That is all <MS burned> With moderate care you will ^be just <MS burned> in the forest as here at <MS burned> [2] place on a sugar-estate is no good, as you might be 10 miles or more from a bit of virgin forest. See about securing the passage as soon as possible, & that it would be as well to go to London & do your business at the Museum & elsewhere — at Oxford, & here.

Supposing you get no suitable partial employment, it will be important for you to find some place where you can live cheaply at Georgetown for a few days or a week, while you are making inquiries, getting stores &c. for a first start in collect^g. as near as possible to Georgetown so as to send off your first month or two’ proceeds with as little delay as possible. With this is <min>d I wrote to Mr. Kaye⁵ who has <MS burned> there, & I send you his [3] very interesting & instructive lette<r>.⁶ Do not be afraid of what he says abo<ut> poor collecting ground in B. Guiana. It is true that in the same country the quality of the collecting varies immensely, and it is no good staying in a poor locality. Looking back at any various collecting places I feel pretty sure that it depends on a special combination of conditions. It must be near true virgin forest — An old village or settlement, in or near forest, seems best, because of the num<ber> & extent of roads and paths into the forest, — also of fruit-trees & flowers — Also especially of timber-cutting, & new clearings — Streams or creeks with dry sandy banks or rocks where y<ou> can get along easily, are also goo<d> for butterflies, as Mr. Kaye says <MS burned> Again, thealluvial flat forest <are> wonderfully rich in butterflies. During⁷ the rainy season collecting is very bad. And very wet districts are bad. [4] known is richer than Para — all flat. Therefore the place — Suddie — near mouth of Essequibo — Mr. Kaye mentions, may be worth trying first. I believe your skill & enthusiasm as a collector will develope [sic] the riches of B. Guiana. You must go to see Mr. Kaye when in Lindon — also Mr. Champion⁸ at Mr. Godman’s⁹ place in London, who has had great experience in Tropical Collecting, & can perhaps give you new hints. Half the collectors who go out don’t know <h>ow to collect in tropical forests.

Above all, do not try live upon nothing. Tropical work is trying, owing to excessive perspiration, and plenty of wholesome nourishing food is essential. It is advantageous to be near some native Indian villages as they are such good fishermen & hunters, — & the fish are sure to be first-rate. I should think you ought to start for London in about <a> fortnight ^{or earlier.} I will try & get you the letter <from> the Colonial Office, but a letter from Mr. P. at Liverpool might help.

<You> need not trouble about Professors. Of course <MS burned> to Professor — the first time — &

<MS burned> | Alfred R. Wallace[signature]

[5] P.S.

Try and get a small Commiss<ion> from Mr. Forbes,¹⁰ for the Liverpool museum. Anything, however trif<ling> that they want. And get a note from him, asking you to get it. Then, by showing the Colonial office that you have commission from <the> Oxford Museum, the Liverpool Museum, any other Museums (? Owen’s College ? Chester?) — I hope, the S. Kensington Nat. Hist. Museum, it will be easier to get an official recommendation from the Colonial Office than <if> you go as a private Collector.

A.R.W.