Objects, Histories and Encounters
British Guiana Seen Through Balata
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21664/2238-8869.2018v7i1.p124-141Palavras-chave:
Balata, Guiana Britânica, Everard im Thurn (1852-1932), George Samuel Jenman (1845-1902)Resumo
A árvore da balata foi conhecida como sendo uma das melhores árvores florestais da Guiana Britânica. Este artigo baseia-se em relatos dos séculos XIX e XX, publicações, jornais e correspondência sobre a balata da Guiana Britânica, um material semelhante à borracha. Estas referências foram cruzadas com objectos relacionados com a balata que se encontram na colecção de Botânica Económica, nos Jardins de Kew, e relatórios contemporâneos de ameríndios guianenses. Ao se cruzar estas informações, surgiu uma imagem mais clara da balata, bem como das histórias por detrás desta matéria-prima, nomeadamente: os encontros interculturais, o significado dos objectos e seu contexto, e como a colónia estava a ser gerida na época. Também se chegou à conclusão de que, apesar de a balata ter sido vista, durante os últimos anos do século XIX, como uma comodidade alternativa e uma possível resposta à crise do açúcar, não houve grande investimento para melhorar o seu comércio.
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MANUSCRIPTS
RBG, Kew, Directors Correspondence, KLDC11683, Letter from G.S. [George Samuel] Jenman to [Sir William Thiselton-Dyer], from Government Botanist’s Office, Georgetown, British Guiana [Guyana], 4 June 1884, folios 446-447.
RBG, Kew, Directors Correspondence, KLDC11684, Letter from G.S. [George Samuel] Jenman to Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, from Government Botanist’s Office, Georgetown, British Guiana [Guyana], 5 June 1884, folio 448.
RBG, Kew, Directors Correspondence, KLDC11685, Letter from G.S. [George Samuel] Jenman to Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, from Government Botanist’s Office, Georgetown, British Guiana [Guyana], 25 June 1884, folio 449.
RBG, Kew, Directors Correspondence, KLDC11687, Letter from G.S. [George Samuel] Jenman to [Sir William Thiselton-Dyer], from Government Botanist’s Office, Georgetown, British Guiana [Guyana], 25 August, folios 451-452.
RBG, Kew, Directors Correspondence, KLDC11693, Letter from G.S. [George Samuel] Jenman to The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from 12 Panton Street, Cambridge [England], 2 May 1885, folio 458.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, UK [RBG, Kew], Directors Correspondence, KLDC11582, Letter from Everard F. [Ferdinand] im Thurn to [Sir William Thiselton-Dyer], from Georgetown [Guyana], 25 May 1882, folio 301.
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