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“...PLANTS
of the
COAST OF COROMANDEL;
selected from
DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS
presented to
THE HON. COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE
EAST INDIA COMPANY.
BY
WILLIAM ROXBURGH, M.D.
published, by their order, under the direction
OF
SIR JOSEPH BANKS, BART.
p. r. s.
VOL. I.
london:
printed by w. bulmer and co.
for george nicol, bookseller to his majesty,
PALL-MALL.
1795....”
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“...of sending tqSt* Helena,
by the ships then on departure, the seeds of such esculent and other plants, and of such treSor fflifubs
as he had then got ready, and might probably be of use in that island.
Having now determined to devote his future time entirely to the service of the India Company, the
Board of Madras was pleased, in 1780, to make an addition to his salary, which met with the appro-
bation of the Honourable Court of Directors.
Hel^inhlZw5 "0tf rng the rr; be9Ueathed 10 Sir j0Seph Banks ; but -count of it is given by
nennmgs. m his description of Tanjore, and of th e Danish colony at Tranquebar.
+ The original sketch of Mr. Campbells journal, is in the possession of Dr. Russell...”
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“...immediately setting aboft
the proposed selection; but towards the end of May, his distemper (which was a flux,) returning, he
gradually sunk under it, in spite of the skill and friendly attentions of Dr. Roxburgh, and on the 26th
of June expired. *
On the 6th of that month he had made his will, bequeathing the whole of his manuscripts, and
specimens of plants, to Sir Joseph Banks; of which he acquainted Dr. Russell in a letter dated the 12th.
SomLe dzvs before his death, he himself saw such papers as he was then in possession of, sealed up in
the presence of Dr. Roxburgh, by whom they were despatched to Sir Joseph Banks, and arrived safely;
'but those dispersed in different places, particularly at Tranquebar,, (among wdiich unfortunately was his
Ceylon Journal,) have hitherto not appeared, though Dr. Roxburgh and Dr. Russell did all in their
power in India to recover them.
Though these manuscripts contained many valuable descriptions and observations, there was nothing
* On Dr. Russell's...”
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“...the improvement of Natural History, and of their approbation of Dr. Russell's proposal for publishing
" a select collection of useful Indian plants; but desired that the alteration suggested by S\v Joseph
" Banks, should be attended to."
Before the arrival of the above letter at Madras, Dr. Russell had left India. The directions it con-(
tained, however, fell fortunately into hands well qualified for carrying them into execution.
Dr. Roxburgh of Samuleottah, who had lived much with Koenig, and, when disengaged from the
duties of his station, had pursued his favourite study, succeeded to the botanical department. He had
made large collections of plants in the Carnatic ; and, for several years previously to his appointment,
* List of Koenig's manuscripts, received by Sir Joseph Banks, will be found at the end of the Preface.
+ See the end of the Preface....”
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“...the Swietenia Bark,
published by order of the Directors, he has communicated other discoveries, to be found in the Philo-
sophical Transactions, the Indian Repertory, and the Asiatic Researches. Such commendable zeal in
the service has not passed unnoticed by the Court of Directors, which has lately honoured him with a
handsome present of botanical books, as well as with other marks of approbation.
On the 4th of July, 1794, after the last parcel of drawings was delivered to him, Sir Joseph Banks,
in compliance with his former promise to the Court of Directors, presented a plan, and an estimate
of the expence of the proposed publication, accompanied with specimens of the engravings. He was
pleased to add, For my part, I am most ready to undertake the general overlooking of the work, to
" set the engravers their tasks, and to see that they are executed with accuracy: Dr. Russell (Dr. Rox-
u burgh's predecessor) will I am sure readily assist in correcting the press of the descriptions."...”
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“...Tanjore, and the Danish colony
at Tranquebar.
In part XX. of the Naturforscher is an Account of a new
Genus of Plants, called Xylocarpus.
In the ninth volume of the Commentationes of the Society
of Gottingen is a Memoir, by Professor Murray, on the Trees
which produce the Gummi Gutta, entirely drawn up from
Koenig's papers, sent to Professor Murray by Sir Joseph
Banks.
In the first volume of the Transactions of the Linnaean
Society, Mr. Dryander has published Koenig's Description
of a new Species of Begonia; and in the second volume, his
Description of Jambolifera.
List of Dr. Koenig's Manuscripts, 'received by
Sir Joseph Banks.
Journal of his Voyage to Siam, commencing August 8,
1 7 7 8, and ending abruptly December 12, 1 7 7 9. The part
from February 22, to the end of April, is wanting.
Journal of this Voyage from Madras to Trinkamaly, com-
mencing April 15, 1 780, and ending May 11, when he still
was in Trinkamaly.
Journal of his Voyage from Nagore to Ceylon, commen-
cing January 7,1781...”
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“...11
TECTONA GRANDIS.
mountains bordering on the banks of the Godavery above Rajah-
mundry, Pegu, kc. &c. Lord Cornwallis and Colonel Kyd have
begun some time ago to introduce it into Bengal, where it thrives
well. On this coast it flowers in the hot season. Seed ripe in
o
August and September.
The wood of this tree, the only useful part of it, from long expe-
rience has been found to be by far the most useful timber in Asia;
it is light, easily worked, and at the same time both strong and
durable: that which grows near the banks of the Godavery is
beautifully veined, considerably closer in the grain and heavier than
any other I have seen; it is therefore particularly fit for furniture,
gun carriages, &c. where small timber is wanted. For ship building
the teke is reckoned superior to any other sort of wood, being light,
strong, and very durable, either in or out of the water. Pegu pro-
duces the largest quantity, the large rivers there enable the natives to
bring it down to the sea ports...”
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“...of considerable size.
Leaves opposite, spreading, short-petioled, linear, tapering to a fine
point, rounded at the base, entire, smooth, from four to six
inches long, and about three-eighths of an inch broad.
Raceme lateral, long, few-flowered.
Fl&wers large, beautiful whif?, with a small tinge of the rose, and
striated with purple veins, inodorous.
Xectary and Stamens as in Asclepias and Pergularia.
Follicles oblong, inflated.
It is a twining perennial, grows in hedges and among bushes on
the banks of water courses, pools, &c. casts its leaves during the
dry season; is in flower and foliage during the rainy. On this
coast I do not find that the natives ever eat it, nor apply it to any
purpose whatever. Cattle eat it. Its elegant flowers render it well
deserving of a place in the flower garden.
12.
SEMECARPUS ANACARDIUM.
Linn. Suppl. 182.
Nella-jiedy of the Telingas.
Marking-nut of the English.
Anacardium orientale of the Materia Medica.
Trunk very large, straight, high, covered with grey...”
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