wight's botanical letters. 183 



such a volume as Persoon's second, miglit easily hold the 

 character of the genera and even of the orders, if the genera 

 were given in an abridged form. 



Palamcottah, 1st Ja?tuarj/,'l836. 

 Along with this I send the last packet of plants which I 

 shall have it in my power to forward probably for a long 

 time; it contains the concluding part of my Courtallum col- 

 lection, and a very few other things which I know you will 

 consider good. Peace and'quiet have never been my lot, 

 and I see no prospect of its soon falling to my share. I am 

 now preparing to commence a roving life, of what duration 

 it is not easy to foresee, having been recently called upon to 

 embark in a most comprehensive course of inquiry, embra- 

 cing the investigation of all the useful or likely to be useful 

 vegetable products of the peninsula, and more especially the 

 means of improving the culture of those fitted to afford 

 articles of exportable value, such as cotton, tobacco, sugar, 

 dyes, medicinal drugs, &c. I expect to make my first march 

 m about a fortnight, directing my steps towards the Malabar 

 coast, with the view of gaining information about the culti- 

 vation and commercial value of cinnamon, and examining 

 the kinds and qualities of timber produced on that coast, and 

 ascertaining the species that produce the best kinds. From 

 that I return by Courtallum, examining in my way, and 

 reporting upon the spice gardens as they are called, and the 

 capabilities of the country for the production of tobacco 

 fitted for the European market. In the course of this little 

 excursion, which will not, I presume, occupy more than a 

 month or six weeks altogether, I expect to get some very inter- 

 esting additions to my herbarium, but not very many, as that 

 must only form with me a secondary object; that, however, 

 shall not be lost sight of, as I liave two well trained collec- 

 tors whom I shall take care to keep employed. My after 

 peregrinations must be partly on the low grounds, partly on 

 the hills; the more of the latter the better, as being most con- 

 genial to my taste, and being least known to the community, 



