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Editor Charles H. Smith’s Note: This paper, read at a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society on 8 June 1863 (and published in their Journal later the same year), was a notable success, and did much to solidify Wallace’s reputation as the leading expert on the natural history of the Indonesia region.

Abstract. The Malay or Indian Archipelago is that extensive group of islands which occupies the space between south-eastern Asia and Australia, and divides the Indian from the Pacific Ocean. From whatever point of view we survey this portion of the earth’s surface—whether as regards its superficial extent, or the immense number of islands with which it is overspread, or the individual size of those islands; whether we examine their peculiarities of climate, or their geological structure, their rich and varied vegetation, their wonderful animal productions, or the strongly-contrasted races of mankind that inhabit them; or if, lastly, we look at them from a commercial and political point of view, noting the varied products which they furnish to supply the necessities and luxuries of mankind, trace the struggles of the chief nations of Europe for a share in their fertile soil, and watch the interesting moral and political problems now being worked out there; we shall be convinced that no part of the world can offer a greater number of interesting facts for our contemplation, or furnish us with more extensive and varied materials for speculation in almost every great department of human knowledge.