George Byam “Wild Life in the Interior of Central America”

Wild Life in the Interior of Central America is a travelogue written by Captain George Byam, an officer in the 43^rd Regiment of the British Army.  Byam wrote this travelogue in 1849 to detail the environment, species, and people of Central America that he encountered while traveling to the Caribbean Sea from Realejo, Nicaragua.  Since Byam is an Englishman who has spent a majority of his life in Europe and Canada, he is an outsider in Central America.

When discussing the species of Central America, Captain George Byam primarily discusses how these animals interact with the human population and economic resources.  Additionally, his accounts of the wildlife are largely based upon anecdotal evidence from himself and the local population.  Byam claims that panthers will “unless too close [to humans], generally make off into the wood” instead of attacking (Byam 1849).  Most notably, Byam details interactions between the panther and cattle in Central America, stating that panthers can pose a significant threat to horses and young cattle.  Rather than explaining the panther’s place in the ecosystem, its biology, or native views of the panther’s importance, Byam describes the aspects of the panther that most directly impact the lives of the native people and colonizers.  To Byam, as well as his European audience, the protection of cattle as an economic resource is the most important.  Ultimately, Byam’s account of the wildlife of Central America shows an emphasis on the relationship between humans and the environment.

In his description of his travels through Central America, Captain Byam recounts his experiences in a village during the 1849 volcanic eruption, which has been assigned a Volcanic Explosivity Index rating of a 2 (Global Volcanism Program 2013).  While Byam emphasizes the significant hazards posed by the volcanic eruption and the significant ashfall, he consistently critiques the Nicaraguans’ response to the volcano and does not make any mention of risk of harm to himself.  Overall, the travelogue by Captain Byam further emphasizes European views of superiority over the peoples of Latin America during the 19^th century.

Works Cited:

Byam, George. Wild Life in the Interior of Central America. London: J. W. Parker, 1849

Global Volcanism Program. “Momotombo (344090)” Volcanoes of the World, v. 4.10.5 (27 Jan 2022). Venzke, E (ed.). Smithsonian Institution, 2013. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW4-2013