Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-01
SCHOMBURGK'S LINE
Ills Maps Said to Be of No Geo.
~ graphical Value.
S A BOTANISF, NOT SURVEYOR
4 drawings Showed Where
FRA Were E ound in the Region.
Hat PROF. SCHARFF SAYS

ourgk's map Of the alleged British boun-
larry line in Venezuela, the document that
forms the very corner stone of England s
contention in the pending controversy, in
hich the United States is taking such a
prominent part. There is possibility that
this testimony will be offered an import
ant link in chain of evidence tending to
seriously discredit one Of the main argu-
nIents brought forward by Great Britain to
holster up her claim upon Venezuela's ter
tory.
Not a Surveyed Line.
It is claimed, in brief, that the famous
chomburgk line was not a surveyed or
biographical line, and that the maps by
hich it was determined were of no geo.
;raphical value. but were designed solely
to illustrate the fora of the country. The
most important feature of the case how
Iuded in these botanical maps designated
5 English possessions was, in fact, the
ceglon including the holdings Of lot of
british squatters, who had entered the
ountry upon their own responsibility, and
disregard of the territorial rights of
eneZuela- Copies of similar maps are now
the possession of the family of Ger
han resident of Washington, and will prob
bly, be demanded by the Venezuela com.
mission, when it sits in this city.
The name of the late Prof. Theodore
;charff, director of the Imperial Normal
School of Metz, is familiar to those ac-
1dainted with the leading German edu-
;ators and faculties.
He was one of the most distinguished
.otanists of the continent, and was fire.
uently sent upon scientific expeditions by
he German government. He was friend
{Nnd familiar of the now famous Schom-
Urgk. and was in constant communicate
nth him while the latter was in South
-nerica- II is Schomburgks testimony
QNnpnra6
arrow a new light upon the Sehomburgk
laps-
Prof. Sci arff, ST., died about three years
|go. His son, Prof Emil Ludwig Scharff,
now in this country, however, and fur
ishes the information conveyed in this
iriting.
SchOmburgk an Adventurer.
I'VE were residing in the grand duchy of
laden when Schomburgk made his South
american trip" said Prof. Scharf to Star
eporte~ today. "Schomburgk was an ad-
35enturors, somewhat erratic fellow, with a
|)assion for botany. Up to the time Of his
leaving the fatherfand nfs life was that of
the German student of the time He drank
Ibis beer, fought his sword duels and got
|tnto the regulation number of scrapes- He
was well yersed in botany, though, and led
Jy his restless, ei.turouS disposition he
wandered to North America, to the West
. ndies and finally, to South America, wind
lown to work upon his botany.
"Schomburgk VI dertook a trip into the
country lying between British Guiana and
[.he Orinoco. He was not sent by any gov
Ian examination of the flora Of the unknown
region and satisfying his taste for adven-
cure. 1t was a private scientific expedi-
|tion, and nothing more. AS he journeyed
nto the interior he made careful examina-
lion Of the flora of each new section of
eauntry. He classified the region geograph-
lcally. according to the character of the
plants he found.
How He Made Hfs Maps.
THE preparation of the maps came about
n this way. When he located the flora of
| certain section he collected specimens of
he plants, pressing them upon folio, and
writing below the sample description of
4 ne same. Then. on the back of the folio
le drew a rough map Of the region where
N the genera and species abounded. The
Bnap was defining on paper Of the area
obtaining specific classes of plant life.
Now, IL happened that in his explora-
ons Schomburgk came upon the huts and
amps Of British squatters at various
laces. Some Of them were wood cutters,
wing In the forests to get out the valuable
! Gods for shipment to England, raising
erhdps a few yams or other vegetables
round their habitatioDs. Oothers were ad-
enturers. proSpectors and hunters. When
found these places Schomburgk natural
y noted their location upon his MAPS, for
he guidance of brother botanists who
a:ght undertake expeditions into the inter-
II have seen those maps and studied bot
ny from them. Schomburgk sent many
|ackages of rare plants to my father out
friendship, and knowing his interest in
otanical subjects. He would ship large
,undles of tropical flowers, pressed out on
olios, and with the description of the coun-
Fry on the back, as have explained.
he no dro
large scale, when exhibiting the location
Vf many varieties of plants within DEFINED
hrea.
How England Got Them.
When Schomburgk- came out of the for
ests and returned to British Guiana the
governor general saw his collection, and
|tcok especial interest in the maps showing
the location of the British squatters, that
he wes pleased to call British settlements
The English goverbment Immediately took
schomburgk in hand His maps were ac-
|eep pied as geographical definitions and the
limits of his wanderings and of the dis
eoveries of squetters as the boundary Of
British territory.
"Schomburgk was not a surveyor, and
made no claim to be. He did not even
Arreke typographical examination of the
Country he had traversed. He did not run
a line. and the alleged British territory
was merely the land occupied by men who
placed their foot upon the soil and said
This Is English ground Sehomburgk
knew the worthlessness of his so-called
boundary of British possessions but he
was not concerned in what the English
Claimed. They paid him for his maps, and
ne laughed in his sleeve at the claims they
based upon them.
Il am satisfied from what 1 have heard
my father say, and from the communica-
hons from Schomburgk, that his alleged
Boundary of British Guiana was an ar
bitrary one and had no basis or foundation
In fact
An Important Document.
The State Department has recently dis
keTered an important document, showing
the manner in which the British govern
ment acted upon the information fur
..sLed by Schomburgk. According to this
Is shown that the English accepted
shomburgk's lines as absolute, set out
+oundary markers thereon and then rested
Tor the other governments at issue to bring
forward such objeo tions as they chose, to
De answered by Great Britain "as might
rppear proper and just
= The newly discovered document consists
II q letter from Viscount Leveson (after-
ward Earl Granville), British under secre-
tary Of state for foreign affairs, to Sir
James Stephen, permanent under secretary
FOR the colonies, written under instruc-