— 22383 — 
ungefähr die Hälfte als männlich heraus, also eine relativ sehr grosse 
Anzahl; die 5jährigen Bäumchen waren schon 10—14° hoch. 
Interessante Einzelheiten hierüber finden sich in einem Briefe 
Campbell’s vom November 1803. 
„Early in the year 1798, Mr. Broff, to whom the highest praise is due for his 
enterprising and considerative scheme of procuring the spice trees from our newly- 
conquered islands (after experieneing much disappointment and want of support) 
overcame every obstacle, and we received, through the ageney of Mr. Jones, com- 
mercial resident of Amboina, five or six hundred nutmeg plants, with about fifty 
celoves; but these letter were not in a vigorous state. They were distributed and 
put generally under my inspection. Their culture was attended with various success, 
but Mr. Coles, from the situation of his farm, near Silebar River, but not too close 
to the sea-shore, and from, I believe, bestowing more personal attention than any 
of us, has outstripped his competitors. Some trees which I planted as far inland as 
the Sugar-loaf Mountain, blossomed with his, but the fruit was first perfected in his 
ground. The plants were dispatched from Amboina in March, 1798, just bursting 
from the shell, and two months ago I plucked the perfect fruit, specimens of which 
I now send you; being a period of five years and nine months only, whereas in their 
native land eight years at least are commonly allowed. Having early remarked 
the great promise of the trees, I tried by every means in my power to interest the 
Bengal goverument in our views, and at length, by the assistance of Dr. Roxburgh, 
I succeeded. A few months ago his son arrived here from Amboina, with twenty- 
two thousand nutmeg plants, and upwards of six thousand cloves, which are already 
in.my nurseries, and flourishing like those which preceded them. About the time 
the nutmegs fruited, one clove tree flowered. Only three of the original importation 
had surrived their transit, and the accidents attending their planting out. lts buds 
are now filling, and I hope to transmit specimens of them also. The Malay chiefs 
have egaerly engaged in the cultivation of their respective shares. I have retained 
eight thousand nutmegs as a plantation, from which the fruits may hereafter be 
disseminated. Every kind of soil, and every variety of situation, has been tried. The 
cloves are not yet widely dispersed, for being a tender plant, I choose to have them 
under my own eye.“ 
Wie man aus diesem Briefe erfährt, waren damals also auch schon 
viele Pflänzchen unter die Bevölkerung vertheilt. Die Kultur nahm 
rapide zu, und die englische ostindische Compagnie legte derselben 'keine 
Hindernisse in den Weg und machte kein Monopol daraus, sondern 
reservirte sich nur einen Ausfuhrzoll auf den Ertrag von 10°o, und 
verlangte nur als Vorrecht, dass die eigenen der Compagnie selbst ge- 
hörenden Gewürzplantagen in Benkulen durch Sträflinge aus Bengalen 
bearbeitet würden. Nach dem Tode Campbell’s wurde Roxburgh, 
der die zweite Einführung der Gewürze geleitet hatte, mit der Leitung 
der Pflanzungen der Compagnie in Benkulen betraut, die schnelle Fort- 
schritte machten. Im Jahre 1809 belief sich (nach Roxburgh) die Zahl 
der Bäume auf 6600 und sowohl Nüsse als Macis waren von ungewöhn-. 
