BRAU de SAINT-POL LIAS Xavier (EN)
Biographical article
Before leaving to take up his mission in the Far East, Xavier Brau de Saint-Pol Lias (his mother’s name was added by decree on 28 November 1876) worked as a lawyer, employed at the Banque de France from 1868 to 1873. At the time, he managed the Société de Géographie, the Société d’Études Coloniales, and then the Société de Géographie Commerciale. He led three expeditions to the Far East. The first occurred between 1876 and 1877 involving a trip to Sumatra. He returned there in 1880–1881 for a mission entrusted by the French Ministry of Public Instruction. He left Sumatra, passing through Malaysia and Java. The third expedition took place between 1884 and 1885. He went to India, Burma, Malaysia, Indochina, Siam, and Java. Xavier Brau de Saint-Pol Lias learned Malaysian, which gave him direct access to information. He wrote a great deal during these missions. He sent back letters that were read out during meetings held at the Société de Géographie. When he returned from the expedition, he held conferences throughout France. He wrote articles for journals, in particular, the Journal des Voyageurs, the Explorateur, and the Bulletin de la Société de Géographie. He also wrote several novels.
The collection
As P. Labrousse (2009) wrote, Xavier Brau de Saint-Pol Lias returned from his expeditions with many diverse objects: ‘In 1881, he brought back 1,200 objects for the museum, complemented by brief descriptions (…). The novelty was the important role attributed to physical anthropology, which, with regard to insulin, he was just starting to collect—sheets of measurements and data, and whole Acehneseskeletons: there were three of the latter and a skull from Gayo, with everything complemented by photographs. (…) He also brought back various objects for the museum that was being created in Paris and ethnographic observations about teeth filing and the use of sirih, etc.’ The Musée d’Ethnographie in the University de Bordeaux holds many objects collected by Brau de Saint-Pol Lias. These objects are associated with everyday life: ceramics, weapons, tools, jewellery, hats, shoes, and utensils for smoking opium.
