Ansichten vom Irawadi: Die Kapitänsfrau Eugenie Rosenberger berichtet aus Burma, 1893 bis 1897

Abstract

In the years 1893 to 1897, Eugenie Rosenberger accompanied her husband, a sailing ship captain, on four journeys from European ports to the Irrawaddy delta in Burma (Myanmar). It was the age of the "rice voyages" with sailing ships, which were facing increasing competition in rice transport from the faster steamers. After her last journey, Rosenberger consolidated her diaries and letters and, in 1899, published her book Auf Großer Fahrt. It would be­come a bestseller. Rosenberger's descriptions of the ports of Bassein (Pathein) and Rangoon (Yangon) inspired the author of this article to illustrate her literary images with historical photos as well as many he took on the Irawaddy himself in 1988. The text outlines the political and economic situation in Burma in the 1890s. The author describes the water vehicles mentioned by Rosenberger and explains why the water world on the Irawaddy, which he experienced first­hand in 1988, is comparable to that of the nineteenth century. The con­cluding section sketches the political and economic history of Burma as well as its economic downfall, as a result of which ancient Asia was still quite di­scernible there in many places in 1988 - much in contrast to the neighbour­ing countries.