13 



From this detail of the prosperous condition of the plants, there 

 is every reason to expect complete success, and it will be extremely 

 grateful to me to be directed by the Committee, to inform you of 

 it within a short time ; in the meanwhile I am desired to offer 

 whatever the island afiEords rn the Botanical line that may be 

 agreeable to you. 



I have, &c., 

 (Signed) Henry Shirley, 



Chairman of the Committee. 

 Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. 



The Handbook of Jamaica for 1901 (PP- 395-400) contains an 

 interesting account of the history of the Botanic Institutions of the 

 Colony (by Sir Daniel Morris), which has not been reprinted in 

 subsequent editions. According to this :— 



" A private garden possessing many rare and valuable plants had 

 been formed by Mr. Hinton East in Liguanea (Gordon Town), 

 which, on the death of the founder, became the property of his 

 nephew, Mr. E. H. East, who with great generosity offered it to 

 the Assembly of Jamaica for the use of the public at their own 

 price." 



It was accordingly purchased in 1792-3. A catalogue of the 

 plants cultivated in it under the title of " Hortus Eastensis," is an 

 appendix to Bryan Edwards's History of the British West Indies. 



The garden was ultimately sold by the House of Assembly in 

 1810. 



IIL-THE 'NARA. 



mthosicuos horrida, Welw.) 



The 'Nara is a remarkable plant, native of Namaqualand and 

 Southern Angola, It belongs to the Melon family {Cucurbitaceoi), 

 and was first described by the distinguished botanist and traveller 

 Welwitsch in the Tt^ans. Linn. Soc. (xxvii., 31). 



Repeated attempts have been made to cultivate it at Kew, but 

 without success. 



Kew is indebted to Prof. MacOwan for the following interesting 

 account of the habits and uses of this singular plant by 

 Mr. John J. Cleverley, at the time Resident Magistrate at Walfisch 

 Bay. 



Resident Magistrate's Office, Walfisch Bay, 

 9th February 1891. 

 The 'Nara grows freely over the low sand hills covering the 

 tract of country known as the " 'Nara Veldt," which consists of 

 a waste of shifting sands lying between the ancient mouth of the 

 Kuisip at Sandwich Harbour and the point where the river now 

 disembogues at Walfisch Bay. The lower course of the river 

 has gradually been pushed by the advancing sand-dunes from 



