Rumphius (Georg Rumph) was a famous naturalist on Ambon, Indonesia. He was the founder of the scientific knowledge of flora and fauna in the eastern part of the archipelago.
Born in 1628, probably in Hanau am Main, but could also be in the county of Solms, or in Münzenberg, Wetterau. He attended the Gymnasium in Hanau, where his father was an architect, and at a young age already showed a great desire to see the world.
He responded to an announcement, posted by Count Ludwig von Solms-Greifenstein of Braunfels, advertising openings for the military garrison in Venice. The Count pretended to be a commander in the Venetian army, but was in fact press-ganging soldiers for the Brazilian operations of the West India Company. Brazil in those days was a wild and ill-favoured destination. Rumphius, in 1647, unknowingly boarded De Swarte Raef in Texel, the Netherlands, with destination Pernambuco in north-eastern Brazil. The ship was, however, captured by the Portuguese and Rumphius ended up in Portugal. He stayed there for two or three years, probably as a soldier.
In 1652 he once again left Hanau for Holland with end-destination Indonesia. He had signed up as a midshipman with the East India Company (VOC). After a short time in Batavia (Jakarta) he was sent in 1653 to Ambon and in 1655 he was promoted to reserve officer candidate and "fabryck" (engineer). He was transferred to the civil administration in 1657 as military life did not really suit him, and was promoted to assistant-merchant and head of Larike on the south-west coast of Hitu.
Five years later Rumphius was promoted to the position of Merchant and Head of the Hitu coast, and was stationed in Hila on the peninsula's north coast.
He remained in that function till 1670 and during his years in Hila he collected and analysed the largest part of his botanical collection, in the process becoming the outstanding naturalist and authority on the flora and fauna of eastern Indonesia. In the context of his studies he was preparing himself to visit Batavia in 1670 when in April of that year he contracted glaucoma simplex[1] resulting within a few months only in complete blindness. This forced him to hand over his positions. However, in appreciation of his loyalty, dedication and the high quality of his performance he was transferred to Ambon with retention of his rank and salary.
This was something quite extraordinary. As the very commercial VOC—greedy is probably the better word—was not known for generosity, or to easily part with its money, there must have been an ulterior motive. In my opinion Rumphius was seen as an asset. His knowledge of the natural resources of eastern Indonesia was not allowed to be made public, and certainly not to fall into the wrong hands: British, Portuguese, Spanish…! And it became moreover clear that despite his blindness he could continue the work on his collection.
It is for the same reason that permission to publish his work: Het Amboinsch Kruidboek (Herbarium Amboinense) and Amboinsche Rariteitkamer (The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet) was withheld for many years.
The Herbarium was finally published in 1741, nearly four decades after Rumphius' death.
More on his oeuvre in a next post.
More on his oeuvre in a next post.
Reference: Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch-Indië, Martinus Nijhoff, 1919
[1] Disease of the eye characterized by increased fluid pressure within the eye causing impairment or loss of vision.
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