The Fire Ox and Other Years

OK first up, I am really surprised that there are no ratings and no reviews on this book. I am unsure where I heard about it, but it has been on my list to buy when I could find it for a year of so, and very pleased I am that I found a really good copy at an agreeable price.

This is a great book - and not necessarily for the writing.

This book covers the authors travels to a lot of places, over a 15 year period. He lists them in the Preface: The 1925 Roosevelt expedition to Chinese Turkestan; 1926 to Ethiopia; 1927 Assam; 1928 Chinese Tibet; 1930 the Galapagos; 1934 Celebes (now Sulawesi in Indonesia); 1937 Nepal; 1939 Upper Burma. (There is also a trip to the Andaman Islands in 1932 that didn't make this list). And three trips to Tibet in 1930, 1935 and 1937 (or to use the Tibetan chronology, the Iron Horse Year, the Wood Pig Year, and the Fire Ox Year.

The author appears to have found a niche in becoming a profession specimen collector for famous museums. These included the New York Museum of Natural History; the British Museum, London; the Field Museum, Chicago. He specialised in large mammals.

I think it is important to remember the era of this work - it is disturbing, with a modern context to read of the horrifying volume of ‘specimens' taken - without beating around the bush - he is a skilled hunter and he trapped and shot vast numbers of animals in fantastically exotic locations, most of which were politically almost impossible to secure permission to enter. Although I am unqualified to offer an opinion as to why - it would seem that - the 20s & 30s - were something of a heyday for discovery and natural history, as there appeared to be a huge appetite for these specimens.

Cutting was accompanied by other scientists - usually a dedicated botanist collecting plant samples, an ornithologist for birds, and someone dealing specifically with rodents and small mammals, sometimes insects. Not all of his travels were collection expeditions however. Cutting established a relationship with the (13th) Dalai Lama, and as a result was invited to visit Lhasa; as a couple they were also invited to the Royal Jubilee in Nepal.

The locations are all fantastic. Largely untouched, often almost inaccessible, all wild.

As I mentioned above, the writing is not the highlight of this book, although there is nothing wrong with it. It describes the travel, the interactions with the other expedition members (Theodore and brother Kermit Roosevelt are members of the Chinese Turkestan expedition and in Yunnan, and Kermit also takes part in the Galapagos trip, also the author's wife joins some of the trips) the physical activities involved, and also give a good succinct historical background to the local peoples and places, including culture and traditions etc.

The highlights for me are the fantastic photographs (of which there are some fifty pages to accompany the text of almost 400), the beautiful maps (four) and the three coloured drawings / watercolours, and the other few ink sketches. I was taken enough with the drawings to spend an hour messing about with the painful and infuriating process to upload photographs, and I still don't think I have the proportions quite right. Anyway without further ado some images:


One part of one of the great maps


Kirghiz Nomad Woman


Nomad Boy from the Pamirs


A Tibetan Watercolour


The Tibetan Wheel of Life and an interpretation of this to the right.

So why does this book fall nearly short of five stars - perhaps the pace of the writing - it is very even paced, as I suspect suits the author - who comes across as a patient and methodical man. The characteristics of a careful (and successful hunter) are perhaps also a slow and measured approach. The book is consistent of pace, and for me could have benefited with some changes of speed - building up to a climatic event (there were plenty of these that would have worked) some more expressed excitement at the achievements perhaps.
Written text - 4 stars
Photos and pictures - 5 stars
Having a cool job (for the era) and being paid to travel to excellent places, take part in expeditions, meet interesting people from remote places and cultures (almost always with an interpreter), go hunting almost constantly for interesting animals and be paid for it - 10 stars.

I had planned on 4 stars, but this book is really good. Go find a copy in a dusty second hand book shop.

5 Stars.