9A Dr. Govan on the Natural History and Physical 



our progress is marked by the successive appearance of plants, 

 often the inhabitants of latitudes widely distant from each 

 other ; where we gradually get habituated to form a tolerable 

 rude estimate of our elevation, by the associated genera we 

 observe in their natural situations around us, it is obvious 

 that the field for botanical research must be equally ex- 

 tensive. In these districts are found many species belonging 

 to those genera of plants, with which in Europe we are fami- 

 liar, approaching in some cases so near to the European spe- 

 cies, as only to be discriminated from them by the practised 

 botanist. Many fine species of our most noble fruit and forest 

 trees, flowering shrubs, plants used in medicine and in the 

 arts, and many congeners at least, if not the individual spe- 

 cies, which form the chief vegetable riches of other regions 

 where they flourish, here likewise make their appearance. 



The laws observed in their geographical distribution, their 

 natural associations, the peculiarities of soil, climate, and ele- 

 vation, which seem best suited to give to each its highest de- 

 velopment and most perfect form — the interesting analogies 

 which press themselves upon our observation between the 

 European, the American, and Asiatic alpine countries in their 

 botanical geography, all form so many interesting objects of 

 attention, that we turn with regret to the necessary labour of 

 specific discrimination, here rendered particularly an ungrate- 

 ful task, from the want of Herbaria, and works of reference. 



In the short account which I am at present able to give, of 

 a few of the most striking facts pervading so interesting a 

 field for observation, will only be traced the outline of a plan 

 which I had laid down for myself, to which time, and more 

 favourable circumstances only could have enabled me to do 

 any justice; as during the two or three journeys which 

 the liberality of government enabled me to make through the 

 Himalayan, I was labouring under irregular attacks of in- 

 termittent, which, at last, necessitated my undertaking a 

 voyage to the Capo of Good Hope. This place the vessel, 

 from stress of weather, being unable to make, I returned to 

 this country, leaving many of my materials in India. I am 

 anxious, during my residence in Britain, to add as much as 

 possible to the accuracy of my mineralogical knowledge, and 

 to derive, from my intercourse with the members of a society, 



