Page 24 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

world. He was the first scientist who academically said that the Western part was inhabited
by the “Melayu” race, while the Papuan race inhabited the Eastern part—in Papua island
and the surrounding. Wallace did not mention the term “Melanesia” in his book although
it was already introduced by a French scientist, Dumont D’Urville in 1832. However, it did
not make sense because unlike Wallace, D’Urville’s attention was Oceanic region—a region
with the inhabitants consisting of four groups based on physical characteristics, which
were “Malaysia, Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia”. In the next development, the four
concepts visualized more on the cultural traits than racial characteristics.
The meaning of Wallace’s existence in the development of science was also interesting
because he had the chance to write a letter to Charles Darwin, a scientist who was already
well-known. He wrote it when suffering from malaria in Ternate. Allegedly when Wallace’s
letter was received, Darwin happened to be in search of the correct answer to a scientific
problem being faced. It was perhaps just a coincidence but in his letter, Wallace said that
he had come to a conclusion that not all of the living creatures could always survive—some
just came to extinction although some also made it to adapt to various kinds of natural
changes that had happened. Wallace believed that the natural tendency seemed to
show the implementation of the principle “survival of the most fitted”. Under the opinion
visualizing such a pure academic inspiration, it could also be understood why many
scientists could not let go of the contribution and the meaning of Wallace’s existence in
the development of knowledge. But, indeed, Wallace could not compete with Darwin’s
reputation, the scientist he looked up to. Either directly or indirectly to Wallace’s influence,
Darwin turned out with the definition which has now become classic in the development of
knowledge—“survival of the fittest?”
The story of Wallace is good to remember—although it is just for pride. Didn’t he write
that very inspirational letter from Ternate, one of the kingdoms which used to be glorious
in the history of the country? So, it was reasonable if in 2008, the Indonesian Academy of
Sciences (Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia) held an international seminar in Makasar
under the theme of the Letter from Ternate. Besides talking about scientific matters, this
international seminar was also aimed at commemorating 150 years of Wallace’s writing
the letter from the small island which used to be a big kingdom, to Darwin. The seminar,
attended among others by the scientists from some countries such as Europe, America,
Australia and Asia, was held one year before the international commemoration of 150 years
of “the invention” of Darwin’s theory of evolution being commemorated everywhere. But,
aside from the dispute on “who was faster than whom”, the difference between the West

24 Introduction

MELANESIA BOOK FA LAYOUT 051216.indd 24 2/10/17 2:10 PM