and on the Sanscrita Names of those Regions. 333 



made in different parts. I also wish to explain the geogra- 

 phical terms that I shall employ in giving an account of the 

 places where I found each species. For this purpose I prefer 

 using the ancient Sanscrita names, both as being more scien- 

 tific, and as being more likely to remain permanent ; for, after 

 a lapse of many ages, they continue to be known to all Hindus 

 of learning, while each new invasion or revolution sinks into 

 immediate oblivion the mushroom appellations imposed by 

 modern rulers, whether Muhammedans or Christians. 



Immediately after my appointment to the Company's ser- 

 vice on the Bengal establishment, I was sent with Captain 

 Symes to the court of Ava, and, during the year 1795, I had 

 an opportunity of seeing somewhat of the Andaman islands, 

 with a good deal of the kingdoms of Pegu and Ava. The 

 plants of the Andaman islands are nearly similar to those of 

 Chatigang, of which I shall give a more full account. Those 

 of Pegu nearly resemble those of the southern and eastern 

 parts of Bengal, while those of Ava bear a stronger resem- 

 blance to the productions of Mysore. The reason of this 

 seems to be, that the territory of Pegu enjoys much more co- 

 pious rains than Ava, which, like the southern parts of what 

 we call Hindustan, is a parched country, and, in order to 

 brijig rice to maturity, requires artificial irrigation by means 

 of reservoirs or canals. On the way, however, between Pegu 

 and Ava, where we approach the mountains bordering Arakan 

 on the east, we had a vegetation much resembling that of 

 Chatigang and of the mountains extending from thence along 

 the eastern frontier of Bengal, which will be afterwards de- 

 scribed. The plants which I collected during this journey 

 were transmitted, together with a good many diawings, to the 

 Court of" Directors, and were given to Sir Josejih Banks, in 

 whose collection they probably remain; but copies of most of 

 the drawings, partly coloured, were preserved by me and de- 

 posited in the Company's library. I also pieserved a copy of 

 the notes, which I took on the spot, and tiiis will be found in 

 the same collection. 



In 1796, 1797, and part of 1798 I was stationed at Lukhi- 

 pur, in the south-eastern part of Bengal, and in the ancient 

 kingtiom of Tripura. My time was there much occupied in 

 describing the fishes of the country ; but I took many descrip- 

 tions of plants, which are also deposited in the Company's 

 library; but I did not i)reserve specimens. I corresponded, 

 however, very frefiuently with Dr. Roxburgh, and transmitted 

 to him whatever he thought would be acceptable, learning at 

 the same time what botii lie and Kcenig called various plants. 

 In spring 1798, by the desire of the Board of Trade at 



Calcutta, 



