Quotes:Bastian, Adolf

Zirkoff, Boris

Bastian, Adolf. German ethnologist and discoverer, b. at Bremen, June 26, 1826; d. at Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.L, Feb. 2, 1905. Went in 1851 to Australia as ship’s-doctor, and continued from there as discoverer to Peru, Mexico, California, China, East-India, Syria, Palestine and Egypt, returning home in 1859. Travelled again, 1861-65, through India, Japan, China, crossing the Gobi. In South America, 1875-76. Further extensive journeys throughout the world most of his life, collecting rich scientific material. Together with Rudolf Virchow, founded, 1869, the Berlin Anthropological Society, and is considered the founder of modern ethnography. Chief Works: Der Mensch in der Geschichte (1860).—Der Menschheits-gedanke durch Raum und Zeil (2 vols., 1901).—Die Volker des 523 Ostl. Asien (6 vols., 1866-71).—*Zur Mythologie und Psychologic der Nigritier in Guinea, etc., Berlin, 1894.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 2, pp. 522-523

Bastian, Adolph. German ethnologist, b. at Bremen, June 26, 1826; d. 1905; educated as a physician, but from early years devoted himself to travel. Going to Australia as surgeon on a vessel, he had visited every part of the world before his return in 1859. Started in 1861 on an expedition to the Far East, which lasted five years. Upon his return, he commenced the publication of his great work, Die Völker des Östlichen Asien (Leipzig: 0. Wiegand, 1866-71), an immense storehouse of facts. Became professor of ethnology at the Univ, of Berlin and keeper of the ethnological museum; succeeded R. Virchow as Pres, of the Berlin Anthropol. Soc., and encouraged German colonialization of Africa. He later undertook further travels in Africa, So. America and India, reporting the results of his observations in a number of papers. He was co-editor, with Virchow and R. von Hartmann, of the Zeitschrift für Ethnologie. Other works: Der Mensch in der Geshichte, Leipzig, 1860, 3 Vols. — Ethnologische Forschungen, 1871-73. — Die Kulturländer des alten Amerika, Berlin, 1878-89. — Der Buddhismus in seiner Psychologie, 1881. — “Spiritisten und Theosophen,” in Deutsche Revue, Breslau, Oct., 1885, pp. 77-90.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 11, p. 567