Carl Peter Thunberg sailed from Amsterdam for the Dutch
colony of Cape in South Africa on December 30, 1771, at the age of 28. During the three and a half month journey to Cape, Thunberg worked as an
assistant to the ship’s surgeon. Once in Cape, he worked for the Burmans and
other Dutch sponsors on his natural history assignments. His goals were to become fluent in Dutch for his expedition to Japan, and to carry out botanical assignments to evaluate the commercial potential of African plants.
Expeditions:
Learn more:
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| Blackeyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) – photo by Jeff deLonge (Creative Commons) |
Thunberg lived in Cape, and used it as a base for his
research. A few days before his arrival, another Linnaeus apostle, Anders
Sparrman, arrived to work as a tutor, and collect plants in
his free time (he was 23, gregarious, and had already been to China to collect
plants). The two collaborated somewhat, but Thunberg seemed to prefer working
on his own. Seven months later, Sparrman joined Captain Cook as a botanist and surgeon on his second expedition. From 1772 to 1775, Thunberg conducted local
botanical forays, and three major surveys along the coast and inland. These
surveys were carried out during September through January, coinciding with the
rainy season when plants were in bloom.
Expeditions:
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The Cape (1772, 1773, and 1775; and later in 1778 on his way
home from Japan) – Thunberg explored the local environment looking for plant,
animal, and fossil specimens; corresponded with fellow botanists; prepared
reports of his findings; and sent manuscripts and materials to Linnaeus and his
sponsors.
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First journey into Caffraria to Gamtoos River (September
1772 - January 1773) – Thunberg and his party travelled by wagon, drawn by oxen
rather than horses, since oxen could better withstand the heat and lack of water.
They stayed at Company farms along the way, and were impressed with the hospitality they received. His journal entries include
observations about the countryside, plants, animals, and geology.
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Second journey into Caffraria to Sundays River (September
1773 - January 1774) – Thunberg headed northwest into the interior of South
Africa, with fresh supplies and a new wagon. He travelled with Francis Masson,
a Scottish gardener who had arrived with Sparrman the previous year, and had had been sent to collect African plants for Kew Gardens. Thunberg describes oxen
and sheep farming, and aloe farming practices. He had harrowing experiences
crossing swollen rivers, but faced the challenge calmly. Thunberg notes Hottentot
rite of passages, and marriage customs.
- Third journey to Roggeveld (September 1774 - December 1774) – Thunberg travelled inland from the coast, stopping at Company farms. He obtained Lachenalia aloides while trying to find a short cut through some jagged rocks to the mountain he wished to climb. He collected African minerals, which he presented to the Royal Academy's Mineral Cabinet at Uppsala. They visited the Heerenlogement cave, and he remarked on the signatures on the cave wall (he did not leave his), and the ficus tree that had taken root in a fissure (the tree still lives today). A wagon accident caused the loss of part of his plant collection. Thunberg describes Hottentot customs, and notes several plants they used for food and beverage. He describes the dry terrain and people who inhabit the land – both colonists and native populations.
Learn more:
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Travels at the Cape of Good Hope 1772-1775, by Carl Peter
Thunberg (based on the English edition, London 1793-1775) – read entries from
Thunberg’s journals
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The Linnaean Correspondence – search the archives for letters
between Carl Peter Thunberg and Carl Linnaeus: http://linnaeus.c18.net/Letters/index.php
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