298 DR. HOOKER'S MISSION TO INDIA. 
(most wretched eating). The pummalow is the immense vapid orange 
of the East and West Indies, whose English name I cannot remember. 
On one side are all my papers and plants, under arrangement to go 
home; on the other, my provisions, rice, sugar, curry-stuff, a preserved 
ham, and cheese (which two latter are my luxuries), &e. Around hang 
telescope, tin botanical box, dark lanthorn, barometer, and thermometer, 
&c., &e. Our position is often ashore, and, Hindoo-like, on the lee- 
shore, going bump, bump, bump, so that I can hardly write. 
I am fortunate in having to take this slow conveyance down, it 
costs me only about 10/. altogether, whereas the steamer would have up- 
wards of doubled that sum, and I should have seen nothing on the road 
nor been able to write and arrange, as I can here all day long. Most 
grievously I need the time, especially for my notes, journal, and 
correspondence. I have been annoyed by the want of a collector: 
the whole trouble of gathering, drying, &c., has fallen on my own 
shoulders, with that of Clamanze, who has always plenty to do for me, 
and who, in Mr. Williams’ camp, had to take his share of bullock- 
driving and transport of my goods, On the other hand the paucity of 
vegetation, burnt-up season, and absence of seeds or roots to collect, 
ave allowed me to make a better illustrative collection of the botany of 
the countries passed through than I otherwise should have done. My 
specimens are well dried; this is not difficult with a little trouble : 
at this season three changings dry the majority, the difficulty being to 
- prevent their drying too fast. 
Nothing has surprised me so much as the drought of this part of 
India, and the absence of Epiphytal Orchidee (I have but three), of 
Ferns and other Cryptogamiz. The prevailing genus of Cryptogamia 
is Riccia! a species of which swarms everywhere in the beds of the 
river. Of water-plants I have a few, and some handsome species, à 
small Vallisneria, very different from F. spiralis, two Villarsie, and 
some Potamogetons. Fungi are extremely rare, I have but one Agaric: 
in spring they are said to be more abundant on the plains. Of Mosses 
only a Fissidens; no Hepatice, and very few Lichens. 
With regard to things for the Kew Museum, I have done my best, 
but the scanty population of the districts I passed over is against 
much exercise of arts. One of the most curious things procured 
(and I think, ever seen) isa pair of bellows, made entirely of the 
leaves of a tree, and used for smelting iron by the aborigines of these 
