Welcome to Henry's Travel Blog!
Although he kept detailed business papers, Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw left little personal material for biographers to consider in analyzing his life. One of the few items which remain is a series of five journals. Following his retirement from the hardware business in 1840, Shaw traveled abroad and made notes, recollections, and even sketches in these small bound books. Join us as we chart Henry's journey to Europe and beyond.
 
Shaw's variable spellings, punctuation, and grammar, preserved throughout, are typical even for well-educated gentlemen in the 19th Century. Important note (4/14/09): The entries from March 11, 2009 through April 8, 2009, correspond to recently discovered text from Henry Shaw's journal. They will be posted online under the correct dates to preserve chronological accuracy.
 
   
   

Posted Online Saturday, March 21, 2009

May 20, 1841: View of the Islands

About noon came in sight of cape Matapan the most southern extremity of the Morea there are some snow capped mountains - the coast has a very barren appearance - but in the vallies are some green spots with patches of small white houses - these are villages of the Maniotes a people that have the character of robbers - we counted as many as six villages -

Leaving Cape Matapan the shore receded and to the southeast saw the island of Cerigos (Aphrodite) the Cytherea of the ancients and the favourite abode of the Goddess of love, but alas to what a different purpose I serves - being the botany bay of the Ionian Islands, of which it is one - as evening came on could not see much of it , but appeared to be of the barren nature as the Morea - after dark passed the other southern extremity of the Morea - Cape Malea - which is high and bluff - and understand is alone inhabited by a hermit -

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