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

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'.