READING RUMPHIUS The English Translation of The Ambonese Herbal, The Most Important Translation of a Classic Herbal Publication in this Century

摘要

The Ambonese Herbal, the English translation of Herbarium Amboinense or Het Amboinsche kruidboek by Georgius Everhardus Rumphius, was unveiled at a special symposium at The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) in Coconut Grove, Florida, on February 5, 2011, and can now be purchased from Yale University Press. The Rumphius, as it is commonly known, is among the most treasured and most complete works of botany and ethno-botany from the 17th century. The original work was made up of7 volumes, each divided into books and further divided into chapters. Written in the elaborate Latin and Dutch of the 17th century, it contains descriptions of more than 1,300 plants and 811 full-page illustrations. The new translation is arranged in 6volumes with species grouped together into families, organized again by books and chapters, and includes a comprehensive introduction that provides the reader with a historical narrative of the life of G.E. Rumphius and the Dutch expeditions to the SpiceIslands of Indonesia as well as the tragedies and triumphs of the work itself. Beginning partway through Volume One and proceeding throughout all of Volume Five are Rumphius's descriptions of the Ambonese plants with comments on their uses and their roles in society. These volumes are extensively annotated with explanations for the translation or interpretation of specific Dutch words, contextual meanings, modern botanical nomenclature, and a wealth of information about the plants and the culture. More than 2 dozen experts from around the world have contributed their knowledge to specific sections of the text and to the annotations. The final, 6th volume contains an index of the plants, topics, and context that makes searching for specific information efficient and effective.