ii : PREFACE. 
Koenig, finding his slender salary at Tranquebar insufficient for the expence of requisite excursions 
into the country, however frugally conducted, was, by the interest of friends, introduced as a natu- 
ralist to the Nabob of Arcot, in whose service he remained for several years; during which he made 
excursions among the hills near Velore, Amboor, &c. and afterwards made a voyage to the island of 
Ceylon.* 
His frequent residence at Madras, while in the Nabob’s service, naturally led him into a more 
familiar intercourse with the English, of whom several seized the opportunity of profiting by his in- 
struction. Dr. James Anderson, the present physician general at Fort St. George, when he occasionally 
speaks of mineralogy, always mentions him with gratitude. 
Among the first of the English who attached themselves to Koenig, in the botanical line, was Mr. 
George Campbell, a young medical gentleman on the Madras establishment. They made a short excur- 
sion together into the Pullicate hills, in April, 1766; + and Mr. Campbell, on his return, candidly 
acknowledged to a friend, that he had learned more of practical Botany in one fortnight, than in the 
whole course of his former studies. By all accounts, Campbell was a youth of most promising talents. 
With a decided intention of prosecuting Botany, he gave a large commission for books on that subject 
from England; but they never reached him: for, being wounded, and taken prisoner, in the unfor- 
tunate defeat of Colonel Baillie’s detachment, in September, 1780, he died a short time after, universally 
lamented. | 
Dr. Roxburgh, who entered into the service at Madras in the spring, 1766, had long applied to 
Botany, under Dr. Hope, then professor of Botany at the university of Edinburgh; and bringing with 
him to India the love of the study, he found in Koenig an experienced conductor through an unknown 
wilderness. Their friendship continued to the last; and Dr. Roxburgh takes a pleasure in acknow- 
ledging his obligations to his guide. 
On a representation from Dr. Koenig to the Board of Madras, in 1778, that his finances were far 
inadequate to the extensive schemes he had in contemplation, and that his salary from the Nabob was 
irregularly paid, the Board, in consideration of his merit, was pleased to grant a monthly allowance, 
in order to enable him the better to prosecute his researches. 
With this aid, he proceeded in the month of August to the Straits of Malacca, and Siam; from 
whence he returned towards the end of 1779. From his report to the Board of Madras, it appears, 
‘¢ that he had the good fortune to meet with several new subjects in natural history, and to make some 
‘¢ discoveries in Botany and Mineralogy, which he flattered himself might prove acceptable to the 
“« public ; particularly in respect to the article of tin ore.”” He mentioned at the same time his having 
had the honour of letters from the President of the Royal Society, and the Honourable Charles Greville, 
requesting specimens of his collection, which it was his intention to transmit to them, as the best means 
of rendering his discoveries useful in England. He intimated also his intention of sending to St. Helena, 
by the ships then on departure, the seeds of such esculent and other plants, and of such trees or shrubs 
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. 
* His Ceylon journal is not among the papers bequeathed to Sir Joseph Banks ; but some account of it is given by 
Hennings, in his description of Tanjore, and of the Danish colony at Tranquebar. 
+ The original sketch of Mr. Campbell’s journal, is in the possession of Dr. Russell. 
