192 wight's botanical i.ktters. 



make them out by, and that work is long out of date : I fear 

 therefore that you must draw largely on Roxburgh, and not 

 confine yourself to his peninsular species, as he never visited 

 those parts of the Peninsula where they abound. In Malabar, 

 as I have already said, they hold a very conspicuous place, 

 if not for the number of species^ certainly for the number of 



plants^ the ground being absolutely covered with them 



In the packet you will find a new genus of Leguminosee, which 

 I found at Courtallum ; I have called it Acrocarpus 



I have sent you the generic character of the genus 

 Pouslowia, which I formerly mentioned, (see page 185.) 

 but I have omitted to say, that the apparent petals and 

 sepals are only bracteae, as they alternate and are not verti- 

 cillate : they are herbaceous below and petaloid above, so as 

 to resemble their organs, and no doubt but they perform 

 their functions. I had a letter from Dr Wallich, two days 

 ago, since his return from Assam; he speaks in magnificent 

 terms of their collections, and of the vast qualifications of 

 Griffith, as well as of his unconquerable application. Griffith 



is undoubtedly all that Wallich describes him The long 



journey on which I am now about to start, will occupy me 

 at least four or five months; in the course of which I expect 

 to travel over nearly 1000 miles, visiting in my course the 

 highest hills in southern India, viz., 1st. The Shevagurry^ 

 between 3000 and 6000 feet, at least I presume so, from 

 the top being covered with a fine grassy sward, and being 

 reported by the natives as intensely cold. 2d. The Pulney 

 hills, said to exceed 7000 feet. 3d. The Shewarries, between 

 5000 and 6000 feet. And lastly, the Neelgherries, above 

 8000 feet. From these last, I pass through Coorg, a country 

 unexplored by naturalists, and descend to Malabar about 

 Cannanore; thence I pursue my route homewards along the 

 coast. Jn the course of this journey, I shall no doubt gather 

 a harvest of natural curiosities, but I have other duties to 

 perform, which must considerably limit my exertions in the 

 cause of Botany. 



