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4 - Darwin–Wallaceism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 August 2023

Erik L. Peterson
Affiliation:
University of Alabama
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Summary

Meeting the “White Raja of Sarawak” in Singapore in 1853 had been a stroke of luck. Honestly, it could have been a major turning point in what had been an unlucky career so far for 30-year-old collector Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) (Figure 4.1). But the steep, rocky, sweaty climb up Borneo’s Mt. Serembu (also known as Bung Moan or Bukit Peninjau) in the last week of December 1855 wasn’t exactly what Wallace expected. His eyeglasses fogged in the humidity. Bamboo taller than buildings crowded the narrow path. Near the top, the rainforest finally parted. But it revealed neither a temple nor some sort of massive colonial complex with all the trappings of empire worthy of a “raja.” Instead, there leaned a modest, very un-colonial-ruler-like white cabin. When he saw it, Wallace literally called it “rude.”

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Darwin–Wallaceism
  • Erik L. Peterson, University of Alabama
  • Book: Understanding Charles Darwin
  • Online publication: 31 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009338608.006
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  • Darwin–Wallaceism
  • Erik L. Peterson, University of Alabama
  • Book: Understanding Charles Darwin
  • Online publication: 31 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009338608.006
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Darwin–Wallaceism
  • Erik L. Peterson, University of Alabama
  • Book: Understanding Charles Darwin
  • Online publication: 31 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009338608.006
Available formats
×