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Promoting Natural & Cultural History
TYPE: | Image |
DATE: | 1747 |
ARTIST: | Carl Johan Gethe (1728-1765) |
AUTHOR: | Viveka Hansen |
CAT/REF NUMBER: | M 280: Tab. IX & p. 51. |
COLLECTION(S): | Kungliga Biblioteket, Stockholm (National Library of Sweden), Sweden. |
REFERENCE(S): | • Dagbok hållen på Resan till Ost Indien, Begynt den 18 octobr: 1746 och Slutad den 20 Juni 1749 |
ADDED: | 16/11/2018 |
iFELLOW: | Viveka Hansen |
JOURNALS ETC: | Linnaeus Apostles Global Science & Adventure, Volume 7, Page 88 |
CONTENT: | This detailed illustration is included in the East India traveller Carl Johan Gethe’s journal, from the sailing on Pearl River close to Canton [Guangzhou] in 1747. Gethe described the large tree among other learned experiences along the river: ‘Just outside the city you see an indescribably large tree, which by seafarers is named Lazari tree as everyone having serious illnesses like leprosy etc are staying here. This tree has a considerable trunk and a crown measuring 20 fathoms in diameter’. Gethe’s depiction and adjoining description of the tree and illnesses is of particular additional interest to the natural historian Pehr Osbeck’s observation on the very same location in September 1751. He noted: ‘The Lazarus tree is further up on the right; it was said, that people having the leprosy, and other nasty diseases, lived under this tree, which has very luxuriant branches. Some little inns, which stand several of them close together, somewhat higher up on posts, above the river, make the beginning of the suburbs: before them lie innumerable small and great sampans quite crowded, as well as junks or large Chinese vessels.’ |
GEO-LOCATION: | WGS84(23.0666, 113.38646) |