Go to archive

Letter from Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm to C.T. von Siebold, 1875

Text

Title
Letter from Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm to C.T. von Siebold, 1875
Subject
Australia--Torres Strait Islands (Qld.)
Queensland--History
Voyages and travels
Coasts--Australia
Scientific expeditions
Natural history
German language--Writing
Correspondence
Category
1. Settlement
Author
Willemoes-Suhm, Rudolf von
Keywords
Expedition
Oceanography
Current holder
State Library of New South Wales
Date
May 1, 1875
Link
https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YEGmdLVn
Series number
MLMSS 7686
Item number
YEGmdLVn
Access rights
Request at location
Place
Cape York
Aru Island
Language
German
Description from source
1 folder - 0.02, Textual Records - (manuscript)

This letter from Rudolf von Willemoes-Suhm on board the HMS Challenger during its world voyage, 1872-76 was written from Yokahama in May 1875 prior to his death. It is number IV of a series of six letters that he sent to his friend and former teacher Theodore von Siebold. It describes the expedition's discoveries along the coastline of far-north Queensland and the Torres Strait detailing the ornithology, animal life and native vegetation of the region. Specific attention is given to the islands off the coast of Cape York (Booby, Raine, Albany) and Aru Island with insight into the lives of the indigenous people who assisted the expedition. The brief is accompanied by an English typescript translation since the original is written in a German script possibly `Kurrent'.
Physical format
Manuscripts
Typescripts