QTIIER VrEGETABtLE FIBRES. S3 



which was merely to make experiments, and to invite tlic 

 natives to fee and profit by the examples in huibandry carried 

 on lliere. 



A quantity of my bow-ftring flax was, I underftand, fent Bow ftrlng flax j 

 from the coaft about two years ago, for the diredors. I could ^^'/ ^J^^k fibre%i 

 wift) to know what was done with it; for, to me, it feems to 

 be the ftrongcft vegetable fibre we are acquainted with. 

 1 mean to fend fome by the January Ihips from hence, through 

 the medium of this government, and vvifh it may fall into your 

 hands, and that its qaaliLies maybe properly examined by the 

 Society for the Encouragement of Arts, I am really forry 

 that the letter, inviting me to become an honorary correfpond- 

 ing member of that Society, Qiould have been loft. I bsg 

 you will afiure the Society, that I am fenfible of the honour 

 they have done me, and (hall be very happy to have it in my 

 power to contribute my mite to promote the views of that 

 laudable inftitution. 



When any new object, promifing to become ufeful in 

 the arts or manufa6lures of our country is difcovered, and re- 

 ported to your Society (for example, the bow-firing flan, )tl^ 

 Society will probably addrefs the Court of Dire6tors, and re- 

 commend the cultivation and importation into England of the 

 commodity itfelf. 



Another obje(5l, of more national importance, \Thich I re- Excellent qual'- 

 commended to this government, before I went to the Cape, ^'"^°f '^^^ '"''"'''^ 

 was the growth of one of the moft noble of the palms, the 

 arrort', mentioned in Marfden's Hifiory of Sumatra, page 77, 

 and faid to yield at an early age (from five to feven years,) 

 fibres ready prepared by nature, flexible, firong, and mo ft for Its fibres} 

 durable, and the moft convenient for cables and cordage of all 

 kinds, that can be defired. It alfo yields great abundance of its wine} 

 palm wine, wliich cap be converted into fugar or ardent 

 fpirits ; and when the tree is old, its pith is the bafis of the 

 I'ago we fo much value. I have diflributed many hundred and its fago# 

 plants, and have fiill a great number in the garden*, befide 

 many thoufand feeds in the ground. Drawings, and a de- 

 fcription of the moft valuable tree, were fent to the directors, 

 under the name oi faguerus rumphii \ but as the trees from 

 which they were taken have advanced in fize and age, a new 



* Feb. ISOl. About 100,000 plants have becti reared in this 

 botanic garden fince the date of this letter. 

 VojL. XI,— May, 1S05. D fct . 



