Letters, 1909-1914

 
Component identifier:
File Items 216-290
Content Summary:

The letters refer to Meek's life on the Atherton Tablelands, his interest in exploring Dutch New Guinea, future collecting plans, the recruitment of labour, his arrival in Dutch New Guinea (May 1910), negotiations with local officials, the failure of the expedition led by Walter Goodfellow, the transport of specimens from the camp in the Snow Mountains in canoes over hundreds of rapids, collecting of birds and insects, new birds of paradise, fevers and other illnesses, financial arrangements, the despatch of collections, a journey to Island River, collecting in central Dutch New Guinea, differences between the birds discovered and those in British New Guinea, the difficulty of reaching high altitudes, the deaths of boys from beri-beri, Meek's return to Australia (1911), his interest in the New Hebrides and the Banks Group, his visit to England (1912), his return to New Guinea (1912-13), the condition of his boat Shamrock, collecting on Goodenough Island, new discoveries including various species of butterflies, an expedition to German New Guinea (1913), collecting at the Admiralty Islands (Bismarck Archipelago), the publication of A naturalist among the cannibals (1913) and plans for future collecting. From 1911 onwards there are also copies of letters from Ernst Hartert and Karl Jordan at Tring, mostly acknowledging the receipt of consignments and referring to the agreements between Walter Rothschild and Meek and new discoveries made by Meek.

Principal correspondents include: Ernst Hartert; Karl Jordan and Walter Rothschild.

Processing information:
M2512

Online content

Access and use

Parent Restrictions:
Available for Access.
Parent Terms of Access:
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
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