An account of the botanical studies and collections of the two "Galathea" expeditions

By Anne Fox Maule

(First published as part of the paper "Danish Botanical Expeditions and Collections in Foreign Continents.
" Botanisk Tidsskrift 69: 167-205. 1974.)
The "nos" after each locality indicate the number of collections made at that particular place

The "Galathea" Expedition
The first Danish expedition, the Arabic (FORSSKÅL) Expedition, set out as early as 1761, but not until a century later did the first world wide expedition, the voyage of the "Galathea" 1845-47, begin. The expedition had scientific as well as political purposes. The immediate cause were the negotiations concerning the sale of the Danish colonies of Tranquebar and Frederiksnagore (Serampore) to the English East India Company in 1845.
The Danish constitution of those days has aptly been called Enlightened Despotism. The reigning monarch, CHRISTIAN VIII, was himself a keen collector of natural objects and objects of art, and found it convenient to unite political and scientific purposes. The political purpose of the mission was officially to hand over the above two colonies, and to make an investigation of the Nicobar Islands to weigh the opportuneness of maintaining these settlements under the Danish Crown. Moreover, the expedition aimed at showing the Danish flag in overseas ports where Danish consuls resided, and to lend support to Danish trade wherever possible. The royal collector seized the opportunity to enrich the museums of the University and the Botanical Garden as well as his own collections, and with this in mind he requested Dot Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab (The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters) to suggest suitable scientists for the expedition. At the same time he ordered the Admiralty to attend to the actual planning. The corvette "Galathea" was chosen for the voyage, and STEEN BILLE was appointed commander and representative of the King. The efficiency of Enlightened Despotism is exemplified by the fact that the request to Videnskabernes Selskab, and the appointment of the commander are dated 14 May 1845 and 19 May 1845, respectively; on 25 June the man-of-war left the port of Copenhagen after conversion for the specific scientific purpose.
In order to select the most qualified scientists and draw up instructions for them, Videnskabernes Selskab set up a committee of which two botanists, J. F. SCHOUW and F. LIEBMANN were appointed members. Five scientists were nominated for the expedition; the botanist B. KAMPHØVENER who was to be assisted by the ship's 3rd physician, F. DIDRICHSEN, whenever his office on board left him time to do so, the zoologists W. F. G. BEHN, J. TH. REINHARDT, and C. E. KIELLERUP, and the geologist H. J. RINK, all of whom took part in the collecting of plants. A draughtsman and a preparer to take care of the collected specimens were to assist the naturalists in their work. Moreover, a painter joined the expedition, and the ship's chaplain had orders to collect ethnological objects. 231 persons all told left Copenhagen for two years' circumnavigation of the world. Of the naturalists only KIELLERUP stayed with the expedition during the whole voyage. KAMPHØVENER had to leave at Pulo Penang, but his work was efficiently carried on by DIDRICHSEN.
Unfortunately, the working up of the collections was postponed until this century [the 20th], and by then most of the species collected had already been described by other botanists. The cause of the postponement was the King's death in 1848, only one year after the return of the expedition; and further, Denmark became engaged in a war against the Germans for three years (1848-50). Very little time was left for scientific work, and LIEBMANN and ØRSTED, the two scientists who at that time worked with taxonomic botany, were busy with their own American collections. KAMPHØVENER had died, and after his return DIDRICHSEN had to continue as a physician under the Admiralty. When, later, he was employed as a botanical assistant and finally appointed professor, only a few new taxa were described by him on the basis of the "Galathea" plants. The plants are now in our Museum [Botanical Garden and Museum] with duplicates in the Kiel Herbarium.
As mentioned above, the "Galathea" left Copenhagen on 25 June 1845. The first recorded collecting locality is Madeira 21-27 July, where the expedition explored the environs of Funchal and made an excursion to the Pico Ruivo (356 nos). At the same time, the ship was supplied with water and provisions for the two and a half months' voyage to Tranquebar on the Coromandel Coast. At Tranquebar, Commander BILLE was in charge of negotiations concerning the sale of the colony to England. The arrangements being prepared beforehand, the matter was dealt with swiftly, 12-15 October; the scientific work, however, was carried on and plants collected. With one day's stop at Pondichery, the "Galathea" continued to Madras, 18-21 October, where bread had been ordered in advance (297 nos in all from the Coromandel Coast). The longest stay in India was made in Calcutta where the expedition spent almost two months, 5 November-24 December. Here, the second cession of Danish territory in India was effected, the handing over of the colony Frederiksnagore (Serampore) to England. And more important yet, here began the preparations for the main purpose of the whole expedition: the investigation of the Nicobar Islands, on the basis of which it was to be decided whether Denmark, after several previous attempts, should make a final colonization of these islands. The preparations involved the purchase of the steamer "Ganges', an 18-year old man- of-war, and the chartering of the carrier "Christine", which was later to accommodate 40 Chinese hands needed for odd jobs. Provisions also had to be supplied. On arrival in Calcutta, the Danish ship and especially the scientists, were heartily welcomed by their compatriot. Dr. WALLICH, who assisted them in every possible way, invited them to his house, to the "Hortus Calcuttensis" of which he was in charge, and to the "Hortus Suburbanus Calcuttensis" in Serampore, where another Danish botanist, Dr. VOIGT, had worked for many years. Dr. WALLICH presented the expedition with a herbarium containing plants from the Garden (155 nos), the labels of which had the Latin names transcribed into the local alphabet. This herbarium is still kept at our Museum. Plants were collected in Calcutta and Serampore (233 nos), before the "Galathea" left for the Nicobar Islands.
In order to accomplish as much as possible the scientists divided up the work on these islands. The carrier "Christine" made for the southern islands: Little Nicobar with the small island of Pulo Milu, where the main settlement of the colony had been planned, and the neighbouring island to the south. Great Nicobar or Sambelong. Dr. RINK, the geologist, joined as leader of geological and zoological work. The steamer "Ganges" went to the port of Pulo Penang where the 40 Chinese hands were hired, and proceeded from there to the southern islands to meet the "Christine" and combine the forces of both crews. On board the "Ganges" DIDRICHSEN, the physician, and REINHARDT, the zoologist, were in charge of the scientific work. In their tasks in the islands the naturalists were greatly assisted by Dr. PHILIPPI, a German botanist who had worked in India for two years. Although it had been his wish to explore the Nicobars, Dr. PHILIPPI had never dared go there on his own. Now he seized the opportunity to go along with the "Galathea" before leaving for Europe. The "Galathea" first shaped course for the northern group of the islands and spent one day, 4 January, in a visit to Barren Island (32 nos). After arrival at the Nicobars, Car Nicobar, the northernmost of the islands, was explored 6-12 January and Chowry on 14 January (162 nos). On the following day the "Galathea" anchored in Nancovry harbour between the islands Kamorta and Nancovry where Commander BILLE had arranged for the ships to meet. These islands, and the neighbouring Teressa, were investigated until the end of January when the course was set for the southern islands. Principal collecting localities were Nancovry harbour, Monkata, Bajoa, Kakaena on Kamorta, Itoe on Nancovry, and the surroundings of Laksee on Teressa (452 nos). The naturalists now concentrated on the exploration of the southern islands, while the other members of the expedition made arrangements for the officers and members of the crew who were to remain at the settlement at Pulo Milu to further the colonization project. RINK, the geologist, also was to stay behind to continue his search for minerals and supervise plant cultivation experiments. It may be added here that the colonization project did not turn out successfully, and an end was put to it in 1848. The Nicobar Islands were handed over officially to England in 1868. In 1846, however, the two southern islands were explored, 1-25 February (330 nos), and a preliminary report on the nature of the islands and their inhabitants was prepared. The botanical part of the report was worked out by DIDRICHSEN.
From now on the official duties of the "Galathea" on her circumnavigation of the world, were limited to visits to the more important places along her route in order to support Danish trade and, whenever possible, to conclude agreements with the authorities concerned. The first visit was paid to the British dependency of Pulo Penang where the "Galathea" stayed from 7-21 March (60 nos). DIDRICHSEN, on his previous visit here on board the "Ganges" to hire the Chinese hands, had collected plants at this locality (185 nos). In Pulo Penang the two botanists, PHILIPPI and KAMPHØVENER took leave of the expedition. KAMPHØVENER had been in poor health even before the start from Copenhagen. A warmer climate and the sea air had not brought the improvement he had hoped for, and seriously ill he went back to Denmark and died within a month of his return. DIDRICHSEN was now the only botanist on board the "Galathea" wherefore the collections are ascribed mainly to him. The expedition spent the days from 28 March-9 April in Singapore (40 nos) and 22 April-12 May at Batavia where they visited the Buitenzoorg (Boghor) Botanical Garden, and made a trip to the volcano Gédé (235 nos). From Batavia a ship from Altona took 40 large boxes containing collections back to Europe. The next port of destination was Manilla in the Philippines, but because of bad weather the crossing was difficult, and it was not until 4 June that the ''Galathea'' anchored in this harbour, leaving again on 9 June. Plants had been collected mainly round the river Pasig (60 nos).
Commander BILLE now set the course for China where he had orders to visit Canton, the most important of the Chinese towns that had been opened for European trade as a result of the peace treaty of Nanking in 1842 after the Opium War. In former times Canton had been the only Chinese port open to European traffic. On her way, the "Galathea" visited the Portuguese dependency of Macao, 20-22 June, and the recently established British Crown Colony, Hong Kong, 23-29 June. The period 30 June-11 July was spent in Canton negotiating, but collections from here are few since Europeans were not allowed to leave a certain defined area. Two days were spent in Hong Kong on the way back (152 nos from Canton and Hong Kong). The "Galathea" now headed for the northern Chinese ports with Amoy as first port of call, 20-23 July. Collecting was concentrated in the island Koolong-seu (47 nos). 27 and 28 July were spent in the harbour of Chusan from where an American pilot assisted the "Galathea" in the difficult navigation up to Shanghai (17 nos). The last Chinese towns to be visited were Shanghai and the neighbouring Woosung, 30 July-9 August, where the expedition happened to witness an earthquake (45 nos). In the northern towns the restrictions for foreigners were not so rigorous as in Canton, and the expedition was allowed to go plant hunting in the surroundings. In Shanghai NICOLAI DUUS was appointed Danish consul, and the necessary arrangements for the voyage to America were made.
Before leaving the East, Commander BILLE made an unsuccessful attempt to land in Japan, but he was not allowed to visit any place in this country. The crossing of the ocean began, and on 5 October the "Galathea" anchored in the harbour of Honolulu on Oahu, one of the Hawaiian Islands, where she stayed until 1 November - partly because many of her passengers were seriously ill, and a stay in harbour was thought advisable. The native King and his British officials were extremely helpful, also regarding facilities for the scientists (241 nos). At Hawaii, the ship anchored in Wajakea (Hilo) Bay to have water supplied for the voyage to South America, and to undertake a five days' tour to the volcano Kilauea (47 nos). On 13 November the "Galathea" left the Hawaiian Islands and arrived on 5 December at Tahiti, exploring this island until 11 December (71 nos). A short stop was made at Borabora, 13-18 December. Three of the scientists made a three days' excursion to the Motu-Iti atoll where a few plants were collected by BEHN.
On 25 January 1847 - 38 days out of the Hawaiian Islands - the ''Galathea'''' reached the port of Valparaiso in Chile where mail from home was waiting. After a thorough overhaul and provisioning she left Valparaiso on 18 February (150 nos), and proceeded to Cobija 22-23 February (11 nos). BEHN, who during the first part of the voyage had launched into several adventurous trips, now insisted on leaving the corvette to cross South America by land and join the expedition on the east coast. BILLE was not happy to let him go but BEHN had made up his mind. Eventually he succeeded in reaching the east coast, but not until after the "Galathea" had left, and he had to return at his own expense! From a one-day visit to the Chinca Islands no collections are recorded. The islands are covered with guano in which no plant will grow. A certain amount of guano was brought back to Denmark and part of it delivered to the Botanical Garden as a fertilizer. Callao and Lima were visited 4-14 March (109 nos). A southerly course was set for Cape Horn and the east coast and on 20 April the ''Galathea'''' reached Montevideo where she stayed for eight days (95 nos) and proceeded to Buenos Aires 30 April-14 May (25 nos). The last ports of call in South America were Rio de Janeiro and Bahia in Brazil. The stay in Rio lasted from 25 May-8 June, and plants were collected in the environs of this town (130 nos), and on an excursion to Petropolis (69 nos). REINHARDT took leave of the members of the expedition here in order to stay for a while with his friend, P. W. LUND at Lagoa Santa. The last visit in South America was paid to Bahia 23-26 June (79 nos).
The voyage back to Denmark lasted from 27 June-24 August 1847 when the "Galathea" anchored in the harbour of Copenhagen with her valuable cargo of natural and ethnographic objects. Many agreements of great importance to Danish trade had been concluded with the foreign authorities in harbours abroad. Quite a few of the members, though, had lost their lives during the adventurous voyage in the proud ship.

The Second "Galathea" Expedition
In 1950 another "Galathea" Expedition (1950- 52) set out to circumnavigate the globe. The expedition aimed at hydrographic, physiologic, and zoological investigations, with special reference to an exploration of life in the extreme depths of the sea. E. STEEMANN NIELSEN was in charge of the plant physiologic work, but plant collecting was scant and only executed for particular purposes. A few herbarium specimens were gathered by T. WOLFF, and a number of living plants were brought home for the Garden. As a curiosity it may be mentioned that on this occasion the giant seeds of Lodoicea from the Seychelles germinated in the Garden, but the palms died after a few years.

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