Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara, Volume II: (Commodore B. Von Wullerstorf-Urbair,) Undertaken by Order of the Imperial Government in the Years 1857, 1858, & 1859, Under the Immediate Auspices of His I. and R. Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, Commander-In-Chief of the

In Short

This second volume of the Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara documents the expedition’s encounters throughout the Nicobar Islands, Singapore, Java, the Philippines, and the coast of China. Part travelogue, part scientific report, the text meticulously details geography, local customs, botanical prospects, and the harsh realities of colonial labor systems. It serves as a vital primary record of how 19th-century European explorers observed and cataloged the non-Western world. Its enduring value lies in its candid, unvarnished descriptions of the encounters between the crew and the diverse populations they met, providing a window into the intellectual framework and political priorities that defined a singular era of global maritime exploration.

The Story

The narrative follows the Novara as it traverses the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with each leg of the journey serving as both a logistical challenge and a site for rigorous data collection. The expedition opens in the Nicobar Archipelago, where the crew balances scientific curiosity with a sense of unease toward the local population. Here, the explorers attempt to map the terrain, negotiate with chiefs—often ironically dubbed with British aristocratic names by prior travelers—and assess the potential for colonial cultivation. The tone is consistently observant, noting the residents' fear of foreign interference and the ecological dominance of dense mangrove swamps and palm forests.

As the frigate pushes toward Singapore and later Malacca, the narrative shifts from isolated island surveys to the bustling, interconnected world of maritime commerce. The author contrasts the "haughty old" colonial centers, weighed down by monopoly and stagnation, with the vibrant, "youthful" free port of Singapore. This sets the stage for a deeper investigation into Java, where the expedition engages with local officials and naturalists. They examine the mechanics of the Dutch colonial government, specifically the controversial "compulsory labor" system that underpinned the island’s immense coffee production. The narrative doesn't shy away from the tensions inherent in this system, highlighting the debates between those who cling to forced labor and the emerging voices calling for reform.

The journey proceeds into the Philippines and the southern coast of China, where the expedition witnesses the stark contrast between European-style colonial architecture in Manila and the complex, often chaotic, social fabric of mid-century China. The final segments of the volume are characterized by a sense of urgency. The crew documents the brutal realities of the "coolie" trade in Macao and the violent instability caused by the Taiping Rebellion. They seek out the work of medical missionaries in Shanghai, framing this as a civilizing effort, even while describing the deeply ingrained social customs and religious practices of the Chinese populace with a mix of fascination and cultural detachment.

The arc of the volume concludes with the ship’s battle against a formidable cyclone—a visceral reminder of the dangers inherent in their endeavor. The survival of the ship and the crew’s ability to use scientific methods to navigate the storm provide a fitting climax to the narrative. The voyage continues toward Sydney, with the final pages reflecting on the physical and psychological toll of long-term isolation at sea. By the time the Novara approaches Port Jackson, the reader has been led through a vast, fragmented, and often brutal global theater, seen through the eyes of a crew that views the world as a grand laboratory for imperial and scientific advancement.

How It Unfolds

The Nicobar surveys The expedition spends weeks navigating the Nicobar Islands, struggling against unfavorable winds to conduct geodetic and botanical observations. The crew records the local inhabitants' suspicion of foreign arrivals, often interpreting these reactions through the lens of prior, failed colonial interventions.

The shift to commerce The narrative moves from the remote islands to the vibrant trade hubs of the Straits Settlements, where the crew observes the stark differences between British free-trade policies and older, more restrictive colonial models. The focus turns to the infrastructure of global exchange, noting the presence of international navies and the spread of cholera.

Deep dives into Java The expedition engages deeply with the Dutch colonial administration and local scientific authorities, scrutinizing the economic foundations of the region. The text provides detailed accounts of the coffee trade and the human cost of the compulsory labor systems that powered the local economy.

The Chinese coast Upon arriving in China, the crew encounters the complexities of the Taiping Rebellion and the grim realities of the emigration trade. They visit medical missions and pawnbrokers, attempting to reconcile their own Western scientific perspective with the unfamiliar social, religious, and political practices of the Celestial Empire.

The final storm The volume concludes with the frigate weathering a severe cyclone, which serves as a test of both the vessel’s design and the crew's meteorological knowledge. The damage to the ship and the loss of the expedition's menagerie of animals marks a somber, realistic end to this leg of the global journey.

The People

The book is primarily a collective portrait of the Novara expedition, though several figures emerge as symbolic of the world they encounter. The author, Karl von Scherzer, acts as the primary lens, consistently filtering his observations through the values of a 19th-century European intellectual who seeks to classify and categorize everything from plant species to social structures. His perspective is driven by a desire to see progress, yet he is tempered by the often grim realities he witnesses.

Among the locals, the character of "Captain John" stands out as a tragicomic figure of colonial mimicry. His desperate attempt to wear a tight, ill-fitting European uniform in the tropical heat highlights the cultural dissonance created by the arrival of foreign powers. In Java, Dr. Junghuhn, a renowned German geologist and naturalist, appears as an ideal for the expedition—a man of science successfully integrated into the colonial landscape, bridging the gap between European knowledge and local environmental management.

In the later chapters, the Chinese coolies and rebel leaders serve as a stark, collective foil to the orderly world of the Novara officers. The coolies represent the desperate human cost of global trade, described by the author with a mixture of pity and detachment. The rebel leader Hung Sow-chuen is depicted through the accounts of missionaries as a cautionary figure of instability and erratic power. These individuals—whether struggling to survive or attempting to hold onto authority—serve to highlight the immense difficulty of navigating a world in the midst of profound political and economic transition.

In Its Own Voice

"This worthy had received by way of present an old cast-off blue uniform frock, and was now making strenuous exertions to squeeze his all too little flexible limbs into this tight thick cloth coat, and to button it, despite the tropical heat, round his naked body up to the very throat."

The author describes a local leader in the Nicobar Islands attempting to adopt European dress to signify his status.

"The workmen of the opium farm have a part of their wages paid in opium; the greater number are themselves opium-smokers, and thus are all the more surely attached to the manufacture."

Scherzer offers a clinical observation of the labor practices within the Chinese opium industry.

"Science had indicated the method of evading the centre of the circular storm, and even of making the very hurricane subservient to our ends in driving us along our destined course!"

Reflecting on the crew's survival during a cyclone, the author highlights the triumph of 19th-century navigation.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an exploration of the "civilizing mission" and the inherent contradictions of 19th-century colonialism. It asks whether the introduction of European systems—be they agricultural, medical, or administrative—truly brings order or if it merely imposes new forms of exploitation. The author is preoccupied with the tension between "free labor" and "compulsory servitude," questioning the morality of the economic systems that support colonial expansion.

Beneath the travelogue is a deeper, more anxious question about global change: can traditional societies, like those in China or the Nicobar Islands, coexist with the rapid, often violent, expansion of Western trade? The author consistently measures the world against a standard of European progress, yet he is honest enough to record the failures, the brutality of the coolie trade, and the stubbornness of indigenous customs that refuse to be assimilated. It is an argument for the necessity of scientific observation, while simultaneously serving as a record of the human costs required to make the world "known."

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gritty, exhaustive detail of 19th-century maritime literature will find much to admire here. This is not a polished, modern narrative; it is a sprawling, observational logbook that rewards patience. The writing is precise and descriptive, capturing the sensory details of a world that has largely vanished—the "subdued light" of oyster-shell windows in Manila, the stench of opium dens, and the quiet, impassive faces of the Nicobar Islanders.

However, readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes embedded in the text. The author reflects the Eurocentric, colonial biases of his time, which can feel jarring to a modern reader, particularly in his descriptions of "savage" peoples or his rationalization of the "civilizing" work of missionaries. The book is long and often dense with geodetic and botanical data, which may slow the pace for those looking for a traditional adventure story. Yet, it remains an essential document for anyone interested in the history of globalization. It captures the exact moment when the world began to shrink under the weight of European reach, and it does so with a cold, clear eye that refuses to look away from the ugly, the beautiful, and the strange. For those interested in the history of science or the origins of our modern global economy, this narrative offers a haunting, vivid, and deeply informative experience that stays with you long after the ship finally reaches its destination.