158 wight's botanical letters. 



appointed to succeed liim as Naturalist, which situation he 

 held for two years, when the appointment was abolished by 

 the Governor, Mr Lushington. While holding that interest- 

 ing and important situation, it was to be expected that one ot 

 Dr Wight's energetic character would employ himself heartily 

 in favour of the cause in which he was engaged. He studied 

 more systematically than he had hitherto done, and with far 

 more adequate means, not Botany only, but all the several 

 branches of Natural History, and made an extensive tour of 

 investigation through the southern provinces, the outline of 

 which is marked in Dr Wallich's map of India, publislied in 

 the splendid Icones Selectee of that author. In the course ot 

 that journey, which occupied nine months, we know that he 

 amassed nearly two thousand species of plants, about two 

 hundred birds, besides insects and minerals; but these collec- 

 tions, large as they were, did not satisfy our enthusiastic 

 traveller. There was indeed no lack of zeal and diligence 

 on his part ; but, for want of previous experience, he had 

 started witli a deficiency of materials and assistance for the 

 collecting and preserving so large a quantity of objects as 

 presented themselves in so rich and fertile a country. To 

 remedy this defect, he made his arrangements for a longer 

 tour the following season, with means better suited to his 

 wants; and was ready for starting in January, 1828, when 

 he received the unwelcome tidings that the Natural History 

 appointment was about to be abolished. In the course of the 

 ensuing month, orders to that effect were issued, and instead 

 of being allowed to accomplish this most important and m- 

 teresting journey, Dr Wight received instructions to proceed 

 to Negapatam in the quality of garrison-surgeon. Under 

 these unfavourable circumstances, our friend's ardour in tlie 

 cause of Botany was not in the least diminished : the novelty 

 of the country and its productions inspired him with the most 

 eager desire to obtain a thorough knowledge of them. "^ 

 devoted the whole of his leisure hours to this pursuit, he sent 

 collections at his own expense all over the country, and ni 

 the two and a half years that he was stationed at Negapatam, 



