Wallace in a trail of Ternate Forgotten

By Ahmad Arif and m. Zaid Wahyudi

KOMPAS.com -In February 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace lying in his bedroom, he had a fever, possibly due to malaria. From his room in a house in Ternate, North Maluku, which come close to the market and the Castle, he wrote a letter to Charles Darwin. At the time, Darwin was nun deep in the Galapagos Islands.

"Letter from Ternate" here's what later became an important milestone for Darwin to publish his book, Origin of Species, in 1859. This book contains a natural selection process, which sparked the evolution. From here, known as the father of Darwin's Evolution.

Letter sent Wallace it gives answers to Darwin about the phenomenon of biological diversity: the fittest would survive (inferior individuals will die and superior individuals will survive).

A letter titled "On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type" it opens up about who deserves a Hegelian Mantilla as the inventor of the theory of evolution. If Wallace first or Darwin? Darwin published his theory isn't just a year later after Wallace's letter?

Later on, the world knowledge recognizes Wallace is the inventor of the theory of evolution along with Darwin. Previously, only Darwin who enjoy popularity as the inventor of the theory of evolution.

Ternate, which became the Wallace residence for four years in the years its adventure in the archipelago, became very popular. Ternate, cloves and nutmeg are no longer solely, but also a place to write idea brilliantly. Wallace "Letter from Ternate" is a valuable Repertory of modern knowledge journey.

During his time in Ternate, Wallace also gave birth to the great works, among them find distinctions and flora characteristics based on the earth plate.

A virtual line made to separate between the flora-fauna in the eastern part of Indonesia in Australia Plate and the western part of Indonesia in the Eurasian plate. The line became known as the Wallace line, it runs along the Strait of Makassar and Lombok Strait extends.

This line is not only deals with the way of life of flora-fauna of separate antarlempeng in the sea, but also the difference of human characteristics that can be observed. Wallace in Western Indonesia classifies human beings in Malay and Papuan race to humans in eastern Indonesia.

In Maluku was the second race was met. Wallace refers to inhabitants of the island of Bacan, Obi, Halmahera as the blend of races and Malay and Papuan. This is a blend of proven genetically in 2011 by numerous geneticists, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United States in the "Genetic Continuity Across a Deeply Divergent Linguistic Contact Zone in North Maluku, Indonesia.

Trail Of Wallace

Walllace renders as stopover from Ternate to its adventure to Halmahera, which used to be called Gilolo (Jailolo Sultanate refers to), to New Guinea (Papua) and volcano Islands in Maluku to gather diverse around flora-fauna.

With vibrant Wallace revolves around the city of Ternate, Gamalama-hosted. "It's very strategic landscape so evident in all directions .... Behind the city, stands the volcanoes there and covered in fruit trees with gentle slopes overgrown, "wrote Wallace when newly arrived in Ternate, on 8 January 1858.

Wallace also boasts House in Ternate hired four years. "In addition to compose collection (flora-fauna), the House that I need in order to restore health and preparing the next trips," she wrote.

He also drew the floor plan and describes their aquariums House in Ternate. "... so that allow readers to get to know the structure of the building in Ternate," wrote Wallace. At home here's Wallace wrote "a letter from Ternate".

About 154 years later, Wallace in Ternate trail wandering barely left its mark, in addition to a small alley in the Village Santiong, Ternate, Central Hallway, named Alfred Russel Wallace.

Exactly next to the alley, a House which is now inhabited family Paunga Tjandra (63), allegedly as a home stay over at Ternate. Wallace "This House was purchased by my father from the late H Ucu Bai, residents here. We initially did this House tahu-menahu Wallace, "said Tjandra Verjon (35).

Single pole wall Verjon show and former wells that have been closed in the back yard of the House. "Mark, Yes, just this," he said. "Many researchers, some bule, coming finally disappointed because it was just left."

There was no trace of Wallace also complain about Prof Sangkot Marzuki, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Yayasan Wallacea Indonesia. These geneticists to write comments in The book The Malay Archipelago, Indonesia Archipelago Edition (2009).

"Alfred Russel Wallace is a big name in the visible world science. However, through evidence, Wallace remains with real palpable and easily identified that she is part of the history of the nation of Indonesia. .., "said Sangkot. "Ternate — where she worked and where the real old theories about evolution was born — was completely clear of signs that reminded the greatest discovery in the 19th century. It's a pity. "

In 2008, the Foundation and the Wallacea Indonesia Institute of science had been established at the initiative of monuments Wallace home page Paunga. The goal to lift back the name of Wallace in Ternate. However, the monument is inoperative. The absence of an agreement between the owner of the land price House today and the Government made history that dormant site.

The name of the street in front of the House has been modified. The name of the road that is converted into the road from AR Wallace on 2008 formerly named Parrot Road. However, in 2010, the name was changed again to the road Fast today. Juma(Eko Prasetyo P/A Ponco Anggoro)

Follow the journey of the Expedition Compass ring of fire in www.cincinapi.com