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Engelhard Weigl

Acclimatization: The Schomburgk brothers in South Australia

Chapter 3

It is only after the death of his brother Otto that Richard’s voice can be detected. The Museum of Natural History in Berlin preserves not only his animal collection but also the letters he wrote to colleagues at the museum. Most of the letters are largely devoted to precise descriptions of the specimens he sent over, but there are also remarks about the progress of his agricultural endeavours. As an illustration I will give you some samples. The „hot wind“, this dreadful guest, capable of destroying the efforts of a whole year with its suffocating heat, has become Richard’s permanent companion. He writes in a letter dated April 24th 1861: „I have already informed Prof. Ehrenberg that seven successive bad years, which not only devastated all sorts of garden and field crops but also the greatest part of my extensive vineyard and orchard have taken me back rather than forward! That is why the fight for my existence has left me little or no time to continue my favourite studies, the natural sciences, in such a way, as I would have wished for. I hope things will take a turn for the better, the seven lean years are behind us and I hope the seven prosperous are before us. Then my circumstances will improve and I will have more time and means at my disposal to satisfy your wishes.“[1]  Nearly a year later, on January 21st 1862, Richard writes, that he has „rather exploited“ his „neighbourhood“, meaning that he has already sent to Berlin all the specimen he could find in his area. And he asks for financial support of 30-40 pounds for a trip to the Murray. „Everything is very expensive here.“ But the hopes for an improvement of his condition have been dashed. „Unfortunately a fierce storm raging for three days followed by 11 days of heat, when the thermometer often climbed to 39 degree Réaumur in the shade and seldom dropped below 30 degrees Réaum. at night has again destroyed all our crops. The apples and pears were literally fried on the trees and the grapes turned into raisins. This is the 8th year of crop failure!!!“[2]

The following letter later that year giving advance notice of a consignment of a substantial collection of animal specimen also contains some more upbeat news. He proudly writes about two cases of Buchsfelder wine which were also packed in the big boxes and were meant for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Richard explains this consignment: „During his visit to the world exhibition [in London] he [the Crown Prince] took a very special interest in the products of our young country exhibited there, but he did not have the opportunity to taste the South Australian wine on exhibition, especially since the local promising viniculture is probably going to be our main product in the future. And South Australia owes this solely to the Germans and among these especially the Prussians.“ With regard to the state of his garden he writes: „Even though until now the vintage looks promising for this year, you cannot count on it - in this strange land - until it is safely in. One day of hot wind often dashes the highest hopes.“[3]  And the word strange (in strange land) is underlined. Richard’s understanding of the complex climatic condition of his new home grew with every year, but he had not yet had any experience with the irregular cycle of ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation). It was in 1865 that the economic growth cycle, in evidence since the 50s, came to a halt. The Atlas of South Australia tells us: „A severe drought occurred in 1864-65. Eighteen sixty-five was the first year in which the numbers of sheep were fewer and the production of wheat and wool less than the previous year. The Government Statistician’s annual report to Parliament stated „... the immense wheat field to the north of Gawler, averaging in ordinary seasons from 15-17 bushels per acre, only yielded from five to eight.“[4] On May 21st 1865 Richard reports to Berlin: „Unfortunately my financial conditions have not permitted me to travel to the Murray. The promising harvest which I had hoped would provide the means for this journey was again, as so often, a failure. The seedlings were destroyed partly by Black Rust followed by a new even more damaging ally „the Red Rust“ and partly by the terrible drought. The latter also destroyed the fruit in the orchards and vineyards. From October to April only a few showers occurred - hardly settling the dust. (I have sent Dr. Ule notes about this drought and its repercussions for the magazine „Nature“.) The yearly rainfall in the plains was only 15 and a half inches. The herds of cattle and sheep suffered terribly from water and feed shortage so that thousands fell victim to it. The prolonged drought sent many strange guests from the outback to the coast, especially birds, who had never before ventured into the settled districts and that is why the oldest colonists did not recognize them.“ [5] At the end of this letter Richard once again mentions a parcel with „Meteorological Observations. South Australia“ sent to Prof. Dove.



[1] Richard Schomburgk to Wilhelm Peters, Buchsfelde, 24. 4. 1861, in: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Historische Bild- u. Schriftgutsammlungen. Bestand: Zool. Mus. Signatur: S 1, Schomburgk, R. I, pp. 1-2.

[2] R. Schomburgk to W. Peters, Buchsfelde, 21. 1. 1862, op. cit. (n. 43), p. 14.

[3] R. Schomburgk to W. Peters, Buchsfelde, 24. 11. 1862, op. cit. (n. 43), pp. 18-19a.

[4] Atlas of South Australia. Ed. by Trevor Griffin and Murray McCaskill. Adelaide1987. p. 16.

[5] R. Schomburgk to W. Peters, Buchsfelde, 21. 5. 65, op. cit. (n. 43), pp. 50-54.

 

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