sign in sign up
<<
Home , Charles Wilkes, USS Flying Fish (1838), USS Porpoise (1836), USS Vincennes (1826)

BIBLIOASIA JUL - SEP 2019 VOL. 15 ISSUE 02 FEATURE

A sectional view of the showing the openings Dr Vidya Schalk is a research scientist and at the North and South poles. In 1818, American currently a lecturer in the School of Materials John C. Symmes put forward the “Holes in the Poles” Science and Engineering at the Nanyang theory. Illustration reproduced from Seaborn, A. Technological University, where she develops (1820). Symzonia: A Voyage of . New York: online curriculum and teaches a module on the J. Seymour. Image from Wikimedia Commons. History of Materials. Her interest in scientific explorations has led her to research 19th- century naval expeditions. the next fertile ground and the ability to navigate safely in these waters would be crucial to its success. The process of getting the expedi- tion off the ground, however, dragged on for almost a decade as the govern- ment’s priorities shifted due to political changes and financial pressures. Also, the public was suspicious of any scientific research, considering it the idle pastime U.S. Ex. Ex. of bored aristocrats. The expedition soon earned the unfortunate moniker the “Deplo­rable Expedition”. In early 1842, almost 500 naval officers, doubtful islands and shoals; and In the midst of this, the financial An Expedition for the Ages sailors and scientists from the United to discover and accurately fix the crisis known as the Panic of 1837 struck States visited Singapore on their way position of those which lie in or the nation and thrust the American ihome after an epic four-year voyage near the track pursued by our economy into chaos. Nonetheless, in of discovery. They were members of merchant vessels in that quarter… 1838, against all odds, as directed by The Wilkes Expedition – as it is popularly known – vastly expanded the the Exploring Expedition, Although the primary object of Secretary of War Joel Poinsett (who borders of scientific learning. Vidya Schalk explains how this historic part of the last All Sail Naval Squadron the expedition is the promotion was also an amateur botanist), the U.S. American naval mission between 1838 and 1842 is linked to Singapore. to circumnavigate the globe and the of… commerce and navigation, Ex. Ex. was put back on the agenda and first-ever scientific mission mounted by yet all occasions will be taken, not Lt. was asked to take full the fairly young nation (the country had incompatible with the great purpose command of the mission. achieved independence in 1776). of the undertaking, to extend the A full-blown controversy erupted Few people have heard of the Wilkes bounds of science, and to promote when this was announced. Wilkes Expedition, its more commonly used name, the acquisition of knowledge…”1 (see text box overleaf) was one of 40 and fewer still about the United States lieutenants on the navy list, along with Exploring Expedition – or simply the U.S. Ex. 38 others who had chalked up more Ex. Although the expedition became mired Genesis of the Expedition sea service than him. Such a command in controversy, it nonetheless left behind In 1818, an American eccentric named conferred upon a junior officer was A painting of the USS Vincennes in Disappointment an important legacy in its meticulous John C. Symmes put forward the “Holes in unprecedented in the naval service and Bay, , c. 1840, based on a sketch by Lt. documentation of the earth’s biodiversity. the Poles” theory. He declared the earth caused an uproar. Letters of protest Charles Wilkes. The ship was a 127-foot (39 m) - Among its contributions are the first-ever as hollow, with a habitable interior only poured in and heated debates ensued in class sloop-of-war carrying a crew of 190. This was the flagship under the command of Lt. Wilkes. Image systematic mapping of the coastline of accessible through openings at the North Congress, but in the end the appointment from Wikimedia Commons. the US , the charting of and South poles that were large enough went through. some 1,500 miles (2,414 km) of the frozen to accommodate sailing ships. This was coast, and the first concrete proof picked up by an enterprising newspaper The A-Team that Antarctica is a . editor from Ohio, Jeremiah Reynolds, who Wilkes personally selected the vessels, crew called for further research to establish the and scientists for the expedition. He also The Mission veracity of the so-called “polar holes”, decided that all duties pertaining to The Wilkes Expedition was primarily a eventually advocating a national maritime astronomy, surveying, hydrography, mission of exploration. It aimed to ex- expedition to explore the mysteries of geography, geodesy, magnetism, tend the borders of learning, and came the . By 1828, Reynolds had meteorology and physics would be at a time when Britain, France and other managed to pique the interest of US Naval the preserve of the naval officers. Any European nations were busy expanding Secretary Samuel Southard and President work relating to zoology, geology and their territories through colonisation. . mineralogy, botany and conchology was The mission parameters were two-fold Support also came from whalers to be filled by the naval medical corps, – navigational and scientific – as directed and sealers who needed accurate charts failing which civilians could be appointed. by the US Congress: of islands and navigational hazards in All personnel and crew members of the Pacific Ocean. Whaling had become the expedition came under the control “To explore and survey the Southern a booming business – whale oil was as and direction of Wilkes. Disappointed that Ocean, having in view the important significant then as crude oil is today – and there was no “respectable naturalist”2 in interest of our commerce embarked the US was then the global industry leader. the medical corps, he fell back on the best in the whale fisheries, as well as With whales hunted to near extinction in civilian talents the country could offer. The to determine the existence of all the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean was “Scientifics”, 3 as they were called, were a 16 17 BIBLIOASIA JUL - SEP 2019 VOL. 15 ISSUE 02 FEATURE

group of brilliant scientists and naturalists, to enjoy the sights. They also noted that Northwest in April 1841. From , almost all of whom went on to redefine rum was used as a medium of exchange; the fleet briefly returned to Honolulu and A SIZEABLE FLEET ● The 118-foot USS Peacock, a slightly the scientific fields of botany, zoology and with a population of 24,000 in the city, proceeded to Manila in the . Most European exploring expeditions smaller, full-rigged sloop-of-war rebuilt geology as well as then emerging fields like it seemed there was a tavern for every By then, time was running out for the in the 19th century used modestly for the expedition, and manned by a volcanology and anthropology. Two artists 100 inhabitants. expedition. Wilkes had promised the sized ships. But the US Navy went crew of 130. (When the Peacock ran were also part of the crew: they sketched From , the U.S. Ex. Ex. crew that they would return to the US by one up by assembling a squadron of aground on 18 July 1841, the USS Oregon, and used the camera lucida – an optical launched a second encounter to the the end of May 1842, and the men were six sailing vessels with officers, crew an 85-foot brigantine, accommodated device used to aid drawing – to capture Antarctic on 26 December 1839. Well eager to get home. and scientists numbering almost 500 the officers and crew of the lost ship.) portraits of people and to maintain a visual stocked with 10 months of provisions The U.S. Ex. Ex. left Manila in Janu- strong, making it one of the largest ● The two-masted 88-foot brigantine USS record of the voyage. in case they became trapped in ice, ary 1842, making their way home via the voyages of discovery in the history of Porpoise with a crew of 65. Also assembled onboard were the expedition proceeded south. On Sulu Sea. When Sultan Jamal ul-Kiram I of Western exploration. The original fleet ● The USS Relief, a slow 109-foot supply taxidermists, equipment makers, 19 January 1840, land was identified Sulu sent word that he was interested in comprised the following: ship with a crew of 75. Portrait of Charles Wilkes painted by Thomas Sully carpenters, sailmakers and surgeons, in at roughly 160 degrees east and 67 establishing closer trading ties with the and engraved by R.W. Dodson. The image appears ● Two small 70-foot schooners, USS Sea addition to naval officers (many of whom degrees south. Wilkes surveyed and US, Wilkes signed a peace and trade treaty in vol. I of Charles Wilkes’ Narrative of the United ● The USS Vincennes, a fast 127-foot Gull and USS Flying Fish, each manned later became high-ranking servicemen), mapped nearly 1,500 miles (2,414 km) with the king, which gave protection to US States Exploring Expedition During the Years 1838, Boston-class sloop-of-war with a crew by a crew of 15. (Sea Gull went missing 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, published by Lea and marines and other sailors. It was not glory of the Antarctic coastline – considered vessels and a shorter passage to Manila and of 190. This was the flagship under the on 8 May 1839 when it was caught in Blanchard in 1845. Retrieved from . or wealth but the thirst for knowledge a remarkable achievement to this on to Canton (now Guangzhou) in . command of Lt. Charles Wilkes. a storm.) that inspired many of these men to leave day – providing substantial proof that Heading south, on their return jour- their homes and embark on a journey into Antarctica is a continent. In honour of ney, the fleet made one last stop in A MILITARY MAN AND A SCIENTIST the unknown. Lt. Charles Wilkes, a million square miles Singapore before returning to the US. ground”. They were also “struck with pepper, rice, camphor, sago, coffee, Lt. Charles Wilkes was 40 years old (almost 2,600,000 sq km) of land on East The expedition’s documentation of Singa- the order and good behaviour existing nutmeg, oil, tobacco, biche-de-mer (sea when he was given command of the Sailing to the Ends of the Earth Antarctica is named . pore constitutes one of the first primary among such an incongruous mass of cucumber), birds’ nests, tortoise shells, U.S. Ex. Ex. in 1838. Wilkes was a military The U.S. Ex. Ex. set sail at 3 pm on 18 August From the icy waters of the Antarctic, accounts of Singapore by Americans. human being[s]… speaking a vast variety pearls, rattan, ivory, animal hides and man and a scientist – a very exacting 1838 from New York. From the east coast of the U.S. Ex. Ex. sailed towards of tongues, and some of who would sarongs, among other items.9 Boats from combination. He was also a proud man the United States, the fleet sailed to and then to the Islands, where four Singapore Stopover infallibly have been at war with each other Papua and Aru brought birds of paradise who firmly believed that no important in Portugal, stopping at Porto Praya before months were spent on detailed survey- On 19 February 1842, the USS Vincennes elsewhere”.7 Wilkes called Singapore the flowers, which were found in abundance accomplishment could be achieved heading to in ing. Altogether, 50 reefs and 154 islands with Wilkes on board arrived in Singa- “Babel of the East”.8 in the markets of Singapore. without discipline. He demanded much and then southwards to at the were carefully mapped, but a bloody pore,4 then part of the Straits Settlements of himself and those around him. Tierra de Fuego, where they made their first encounter between the crew members together with Malacca and Penang. A Thriving Entrepôt In addition to being self-opinion- attempt to reach the Antarctic. of the expedition and the Fijians would Wilkes was warmly received by the US Wilkes estimated there were at least ated and stubborn, Wilkes possessed a The gales and terrible weather, mar this accomplishment. The Fijians consul Joseph Balestier, his wife Maria 1,500–2,000 vessels in the port at any fiery temper and, as a result, became however, forced the ships to turn back had a reputation as cannibals. At first the Revere – the daughter of the famous one time, with numerous prahu (wooden embroiled in frequent altercations but not without the tragic loss of the USS crew thought these were mere myths American patriot Paul Revere – and sailing boats) from neighbouring Riau with his superiors throughout his naval Sea Gull: its 15 men on board were never but soon realised that the reports were son Joseph. The two men had become and Lingga, Celebes, Flores, Timor, career. Incidentally, Wilkes is believed seen again. The rest of the fleet sailed to true. As the fleet was preparing to leave acquainted some years earlier in Wash- Ambon, Sumba and Lubok, and also from to be the inspiration for the character and headed westwards to survey and Fiji in July 1840, two of its officers, one ington prior to Balestier’s arrival in resource-rich . Popular goods Captain Ahab in ’s 1851 explore the Tuamotu and Society islands of them Wilkes’ nephew, were killed by Singapore. In fact, Wilkes had provided imported from Riau and Lingga included classic, Moby Dick.1 in the South Pacific, before moving on the islanders while bartering for food on Balestier with information on the region, But the truth was, in spite of his to Tahiti and , and finally arriving Malolo Island. In the subsequent dispro- including a copy of the best map he had Some of the items obtained by the Wilkes Expedition relatively junior rank, no officer in the in Sydney, , in November 1839. portionate reprisal by the Americans, at the time. Balestier reciprocated Wilkes’ from Southeast Asia include the kris (dagger) and a navy was more suitable than Wilkes to The fleet sailed into Sydney harbour some 60 islanders lost their lives. kindness by hosting him in Singapore. model of a prahu (wooden sailing boat). These are lead the scientific mission. He had trained in the middle of the night. Delighted to Leaving Fiji behind, the expedition Years later, when Wilkes wrote his autobi- currently kept at the Smithsonian’s National Museum under two of the leading scientists in be at a port where English was spoken, headed to and from there to ography, he would make special mention of Natural History. Courtesy of , their fields – James Renwick and Ferdi- the Americans took every opportunity survey and chart the American Pacific of a huge cabinet presented to him by National Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology (E3911-0 & E3893-0). nand Hassler – under whose tutelage he Mrs Balestier, fashioned out of “woods became proficient in astronomy, mag- of this country [Singapore]”.5 netism, geodesy and nautical surveying. A map showing the major Wilkes and his crew were so fasci- True to his character, Wilkes geographical features of the nated with Singapore that he dedicated accepted the appointment to lead the Antarctic continent. Wilkes an entire chapter to the island in his “Nar- Land, as indicated along the 6 squadron as no more than his due and southwestern coast of East rative” of the expedition. Several astute was granted a great deal of autonomy Antarctica, occupies an area of observations were made by Wilkes and by Secretary of War Joel Poinsett to almost 2.6 million sq km. Image the crew during their brief stay here. It is make plans and lead the expedition. The from Wikimedia Commons. remarkable that several of these obser- Ex. Ex. had many daunting objectives vations hold true almost 200 years later. to fulfill – and Lt. Charles Wilkes was deemed the best person for the job. A Colourful Melting Pot The crew was amazed by the confluence of NOTE races, languages and cultures in Singapore 1 Herman Melville’s nephew, Hunn Gansevoort, was and the peaceful coexistence among the on the Wilkes expedition, but he detached with a sick ticket within 11 months. Melville incorporated aspects people, the “rarity of quarrels between from the Ex. Ex. into his masterpiece, Moby Dick. different races and religions owning to the consideration of the place being neutral 18 19 BIBLIOASIA JUL - SEP 2019 VOL. 15 ISSUE 02 FEATURE

The expedition noted that “every nation I met with invariably considered his and cymbals. Wilkes described the sight unlikely to survive the perilous journey avenue, arcade, or veranda approaching it sojourn temporary”.13 The Chinese, for of “an immense illuminated sea-serpent” home around the Cape of Good Hope in [the bazaar] is filled with money-changers, instance, were likely to return home to made of lanterns.15 The Americans were the hurricane season. and small-ware dealers, eager for selling China as soon they acquired a skill, even astonished at “the extent and earnestness When the USS Vincennes finally European goods, Chinese toys, and many at the risk of being punished for having with which gaming was carried [out] by pulled into New York harbour on 10 June other attractive curiosities.”10 left their homeland illegally. the Chinese at every shop, bazaar and 1842, there was no welcome ceremony Singapore was described as a thriving corner of almost every street with cards or celebration after its nearly four-year entrepôt, with arriving goods redistributed Lush Flora and Fauna or dice… their whole soul seemed to be sojourn. Much had changed politically in to other places, with hardly anything Wilkes and his men found the jungle staked with their money”.16 the country in the time Wilkes and his crew produced here. Vessels that called at the undergrowth in the interior so impenetrable They also watched a Chinese opera were away. Instead, Wilkes and several port were not charged duties on imports that no Europeans or natives had ever and an Indian theatrical show that was per- other officers were court-martialled for or exports, and the only questions asked climbed Bukit Timah Hill, the highest point formed by plantation workers on Balestier’s various charges – including abuse of power were the contents of the cargo, the value of the island even though it was only 500 ft estate. In addition to Chinese New Year, the – that distracted from the achievements of the goods and the size of the vessel. (152 m) high. Tigers were not indigenous Americans also encountered Muharram of the expedition. In the end, Wilkes was Such information was then published to Singapore, but the big cats had begun processions.17 Wilkes observed men and found not guilty on all counts, except for weekly in the newspaper, “so anyone may to swim across the narrow Johor Strait boys playing football which he called using excessive punishment on his men, inform themselves of the charges he is from the Malay Peninsula in search of “hobscob”, although it was most likely for which he was reprimanded. liable to incur and of the advantages it has food. Even criminals and thieves avoided sepak takraw, a sport played with a rattan In the days that followed, Wilkes over the other ports in the Eastern seas.”11 their usual escape routes in the jungles for ball and native to the Malay Archipelago. marshalled the support of influential The era of steam-powered vessels fear of tigers. The expedition also witnessed wedding (Above) Opium smoking was one of the social ills politicians to safeguard the discoveries of was just starting to take off and Wilkes Records of the crops grown here and funeral processions, and even visited that plagued Singaporean society in the late 19th and the expedition. It is to Wilkes’ credit that mentions that “during… [his] stay in Sin- included ​nutmeg, coffee, black pep- Chinese and Hindu cemeteries. early 20th centuries. Courtesy of National Museum the first-ever national institutions in the US of Singapore, National Heritage Board. gapore, the subject of steam navigation per, cocoa, gambier, gamboge (a kind of became home to the important collections was much talked of, and many projects resin) and a variety of fruits. Timber was The Scourge of Opium (Left) In Singapore, Charles Wilkes and his team that the U.S. Ex. Ex. had brought home, appeared to be forming by which the also an important cash crop, and highly According to Wilkes’ account, opium obtained a number of rare documents with the help where their proper safekeeping and study of American missionary Alfred North. One of these is a settlement might reap the advantages of prized for shipbuilding. The Americans smoking in Singapore was one of the most letter (shown here) from Sultan Ahmad of Terengganu could be ensured. that communication, when established noted an abundance of fruit in Singapore; repugnant sights witnessed by expedition to William Farquhar dated 29 Rejab 1234 (24 May Despite the dent to his reputation, between India and China”.12 they were told “that there are 120 kinds members during their time on the island. 1819). Farquhar Collection, Asian Division, courtesy Wilkes was placed in charge of the expedi- that can be served as a dessert”14 and Opium was easily available and shops were of Library of Congress, Washington D.C. tion’s collections on 1 August 1843.27 Once A Place of Transience they especially enjoyed pineapples. They licensed to sell it, which was a huge source again, he was deemed the best person In 1842, the population in Singapore was collected many zoological, conchological of revenue for the government but a great Indonesia, and are an important source for the job and set about preserving and recorded as 60,000, comprising 45,000 and botanical specimens, including two cause of human degeneracy. Many of the of information about the early British preparing the collection for display in addi- Chinese, 8,000 Malays and 7,000 Indi- species of the Nepenthe (pitcher plants) that vessels that trafficked opium were either colonial period in the region. tion to preparing reports and directing the ans, with only one-tenth of the whole as were preserved and brought back to the US. owned or operated by merchants. Wilkes Among the documents are seven production of the expedition charts. The female. The people were diverse, with noted “how some of those who knew its letters from the Raja Bendahara of “Collection of the Exploring Expedition” Malays, Chinese, Hindus and Muslims, A Vibrant Cultural Scene effects and condemned its use engaged in Johor-Pahang (1819–22), three letters was displayed at the Patent Office Building Jews, Armenians and Europeans, and Par- The arrival of the U.S. Ex. Ex. in Singapore and defended its trade…”18 from the Pangeran Dipati of Palembang in Washington D.C. until 1858 when it was sees, Bugis and Arabs. Wilkes wrote about coincided with the Chinese New Year cele- One of the crew wrote that opium (1819–22), and a letter from Sultana Siti transferred to the Smithsonian Institu- the transient nature of the population, brations. The eve fell on 21 February 1842, vendors would set up their “little table in Fatimah binti Jamaluddin Abdul Rahman tion which, together with artefacts from remarking that “no European looks upon and the expedition members were awed the public street, with his box and scales England, went up in flames and sank on of Pamanah dated 1822. There are also American history, influenced the early the East as a home, and all those of every by the processions of lanterns, noisy gongs upon it, and tempting samples of the 2 February 1824). numerous letters from Riau dating from development of the institution. “dreamy drug… A single glance of these Initially known as the “Smithsonian 1818, as well as those from Siak, Lingga, In 1844, the original and official (by the The Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore sketched by Alfred T. Agate and engraved by J.A. Rolph in 1842. opium dealers will convince you that they Deposit”, the manuscripts and books Terengganu and other places. authority of Congress) publication of the The image appears in vol. v of Charles Wilkes’ Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the are their own best customers… [with] their were transferred in 1866 to the Library Other treasures of note are two expedition, titled Narrative of the United Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, published by Lea and Blanchard in 1845. Retrieved from Internet Archive. soiled and disorderly dress, the palsied of Congress (LOC) in Washington D.C. – copies of the rare 1840 lithographed States Exploring Expedition, During the hand and pale cheek, the sunken eye and the oldest federal cultural institution in Mission Press edition of the Sejarah Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, was vacant stare...”19 the country and reputedly the largest Melayu (Malay Annals) written in Jawi,23 assembled by Wilkes using the journals library in the world – forming the first a copy of the Hikayat Abdullah (1843) by and records of his officers and others. The Library of Congress and the documented Asian books in its collec- Munshi Abdullah,24 as well as codices The work was issued in five volumes with Singapore Link tion. The materials were rediscovered in such as Hikayat Amir Hamzah (1838),25 illustrations, maps and an atlas.28 Wilkes and his team obtained a number 1966 when they came to the attention Hikayat Johor (1838),26 Hikayat Panca of rare Malay and Bugis manuscripts and of scholars. They are now part of the Tanderan (1835), Hikayat Patani (1839), The Legacy of the U.S. Ex. Ex. books with the help of the Singapore-based Southeast Asia rare collections of the and a handcopied (by Munshi Abdullah) The expedition was not an easy one by any American missionary Alfred North.20 Some Asian Division of the LOC.22 version of Kitab Tib from 1837. measure – the gruelling four-year sea voy- of these beautifully written manuscripts The Malay manuscripts at the LOC age saw the loss of close to 40 men and two were described “as forming a collection consist of 14 codices, six additional codices Home at Last – But No Hero’s ships, the USS Sea Gull and USS Peacock. which is said to be the largest now in and a bound volume containing handwrit- Welcome Despite the immense challenges of the mis- being, that of Sir Stamford Raffles having ten official correspondence and letters The U.S. Ex. Ex. set off from Singapore sion and the difficulties that beset Wilkes been lost”.21 (Raffles’ precious collection of with official seals addressed to then British on 26 February 1842 without the small- on his return, the accomplishments of the drawings, manuscripts, books and wildlife Resident in Singapore, William Farquhar. est ship in the fleet, the USS Flying Fish. U.S. Ex. Ex. would go down in the annals specimens were destroyed when the ship These were sent by heads of state in what She had been sold because her frame of American history for its success in not Fame, taking him and his family back to are now Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia and had weakened considerably and was only promoting American commerce and 20 21 BIBLIOASIA JUL - SEP 2019

industry, but also for expanding the bor- The items collected from the Wilkes ders of scientific knowledge. Altogether, Expedition were initially kept by some 40 tons of material were brought the National Institute for the back by the expedition, along with an Promotion of Science. In 1858, the astounding amount of data. collection was transferred to the The team surveyed 280 Pacific Smithsonian Institution and housed in the museum (seen here) in the islands, created 180 charts and logged Smithsonian Institution Building, 87,000 miles (140,013 km) without the use nicknamed The Castle. Image of modern navigation aids. The expedition reproduced from Rhees, W.J. (1859). also mapped 800 miles (1,287 km) of the An account of the Smithsonian Pacific Northwest coastline and 1,500 Institution, its founder, building, operations, etc. : prepared from miles (2,414 km) of icebound and frozen the reports of Prof. Henry to the Antarctica coast. A century later, during regents, and other authentic sources the Pacific campaign in World War II, the (p. 20). Washington: Thomas McGill. maps and charts created by the U.S. Ex. Retrieved from Internet Archive. Ex. of the Pacific Islands (Tarawa, Gilbert and Marshall islands) would be used for National Archives of Singapore and National the American island-hopping strategy ON PAPER: SINGAPORE BEFORE 1867 Museum of Singapore, as well as from during the war.29 Among the rare manuscripts and overseas institutions such as The British The Wilkes Expedition played an documents that the U.S. Ex. Ex. Library, National Library of the Republic important role in the development of obtained from Singapore and kept at of Indonesia and National Archives of the science not only in the US but the world the Library of Congress in Washington Netherlands. Comprising manuscripts, over. By making its research publicly avail- D.C. are official correspondence and maps, letters, treaties, paintings, photo- able, the expedition was also instrumental letters addressed to British Resident graphs and other forms of documentation, in the democratisation of science. The William Farquhar. Seven of these these paper artefacts trace the history of specimens and items amassed from the letters will be on display at the National Singapore until its establishment as a Crown expedition formed the core collection of Library’s upcoming exhibition, “On Colony on 1 April 1867. many departments at the Smithsonian Paper: Singapore Before 1867”, which A companion book of the same title Institution, and the work of the “Scientif- opens in the last quarter of 2019 at will be launched in conjunction with ics” would profoundly affect the subse- level 10 of the National Library Building. the exhibition. For more details on the quent development of American science The exhibition will showcase over exhibition opening date, follow us on and, by extension, all scientific discovery 100 items from the National Library, Facebook @NationalLibrarySG. on the global stage.

1840, 1841, 1842 (vols. I to V). Philadelphia: Lea and 517–520. Retrieved from JSTOR; Rony, A. K. (1991) NOTES Blanchard. Retrieved from Internet Archive. NLB has Malay manuscripts and early printed books at the 1 Wilkes, C. (1842). Synopsis of the cruise of the U.S. the condensed and abridged version published by Library of Congress. Indonesia, Vol. 52, pp. 123–134. Exploring Expedition during the years 1838, ’39, ’40, Whittaker and Co. in London, 1845. Chapter 38 is on Retrieved from JSTOR. ’41 & ’42 delivered before the National Institute by its Singapore. This book can be retrieved from BookSG. 23 NLB also has the 1840 edition which has been digitised. Commander Charles Wilkes on the twentieth of June 7 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 411. See Munshi Abdullah. (1840). Sejarah Melayu. 1842 to which is added a list of officers and scientific 8 Wilkes, 1842, p. 40. Singapore: Mission Press. Retrieved from BookSG. corps attached to the expedition (p. 6). Washington, 9 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 411. 24 NLB does not have the 1843 edition. NLB’s 1849 DC: Peter Force. Retrieved from Internet Archive. 10 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 415. edition has been digitised. See Abdullah Abdul Kadir. 2 Stanton, W. (1975). The Great United States 11 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 423. (1849). Hikayat Abdullah. Singapore: Mission Press. Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 (p. 63). Berkeley, 12 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 432. Retrieved from BookSG. Los Angeles; London: University of California Press. 13 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 415. 25 NLB does not have the 1838 edition. NLB’s 1865 (Not available in NLB holdings) 14 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 403. edition has not been digitised, but a microfilm copy 3 The roster of the civilian corps, as it appeared on 15 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 408. is available. See Hikayat Amir Hamzah. (1865). [S.I.: the date of sailing and as it remained for the most 16 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 404; Colvocoresses, G.M. s.n.]. (Mcrofilm no.: NL1886) part throughout the voyage was as follows: Charles (1855). Four years in the Government Exploring 26 NLB does not have the 1838 edition. Instead see Pickering and (naturalists), Joseph Couthouy Expedition; commanded by Captain Charles Wilkes, this edition: Muhammad Said. (199-). Hikayat Johor (conchologist), James Dana (mineralogist and geologist), to the island of Madeira, Cape Verd Island, Brazil… dan tawarikh al Marhum Sulan Abu Bakar. London: William Brackenridge (horticulturist), William Rich (5th edition; p. 348). New York: J.M. Fairchild. Oriental and India Office Collections, Reference (botanist), (philologist), Joseph Drayton Retrieved from Hathi Trust Digital Library. Service Division, British Library. (Call no.: RCLOS and Alfred Agate (artists/draughtsmen). See Feipel, L.N. 17 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 410. [Note: Muharram is the Malay 959.511903 MUH) (1914). The Wilkes Exploring Expedition. Its Progress first month of the Islamic calendar. On the first day 27 Viola, H.J., & Margolis, C. (Eds.). (1985). Magnificent through Half a Century: 1826 1876. United States Naval of Muharram, the Islamic new year is celebrated. voyagers: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838–1842 Institute Proceedings, XL, pp. 1323–50. (Not available The 10th day of Muharram is known as the day of (p. 197). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution in NLB holdings) Ashura, which commemorates the death of Husayn Press. (Not available in NLB holdings) 4 USS Porpoise and USS Oregon had arrived in ibn Ali, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad.] 28 Only 100 copies were produced in 1844, and thus were Singapore almost a month earlier on 22 January 18 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 428. much sought after. Beyond the five initial volumes, there 1842 and USS Flying Fish on 16 February 1842. 19 Colvocoresses, 1855, p. 346. were 24 additional volumes planned covering topics 5 King, H.G.R. (1979, January). Autobiography of 20 Of interest to note is that when the American Board of such as ethnography, mammalogy, ornithology, geology Charles Wilkes - Autobiography of Rear Admiral Commissioners for Foreign Missions Singapore mission and botany, but not all were eventually published. Charles Wilkes, US Navy, 1798–1877, edited by W.J. station shut down in 1843, Houghton Library of Harvard 29 Also known as leapfrogging, this was a military Morgan, D.B. Tyler, J. L. Leonhart, and M.F. Loughlin. University became the repository of the remaining strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific War Washington: Naval History Division, Department of archives and contains many valuable manuscripts. against the Axis powers (most notably ) during the Navy. Polar Record, 19 (121), pp. 396–397. (Not 21 Wilkes, 1845, vol. V, p. 420. World War II. The goal was to control strategic available in NLB holdings) 22 Teeuw, A. (1967). Korte Mededelingen: Malay islands, island-by-island, using each as a base along 6 Wilkes, C. (1845). Narrative of the United States’ Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. Bijdragen a path towards Japan with the eventual aim of Exploring Expedition, During the years 1838, 1839, tot de taal-, land-, en volkenkunde, 123 (4), pp. bringing US bombers within range of an invasion.

22