— 62 — 



and very interesting collection of seeds from our 

 forest essences, which, exhibited at our forthcoming 

 show, will prove of considerable local interest. 



Nuts of the Coco-de-Mer, Lodoicea Seychellarum 

 were presented at the close of the Exhibition, from the 

 Royal Society of Arts and Sciences, to the Indian 

 Imperial Museum. 



That remarkable tree, one of the most gigantic of 

 the Seychelles flora, grows only on two islands of the 

 Archipelago, Mahe and Praslin, and it seems that, 

 nowhere else it finds the requisite conditions which it 

 does in its natural habitat. I think that, some sis or 

 seven years ago, several dozens of young Cocos-de- 

 Mer were received by our Botanical Gardens, but, I 

 am ignorant, how long the plants have lived and 

 whether there are still some specimens extant. 



It is agreeable to me to state in conclusion, that 

 the Colony has obtained so fair a share in the prizes 

 awarded at the exhibition, as is evinced by letter date d, 

 Calcutta 11th March 1884, and that that success is in 

 a great measure attributable to the Committee appoint- 

 ed for the purpose of collecting exhibits, which were 

 all select and choicely collected. 



It is also pleasant for me to acknowledge the assis- 

 tance given to me, whilst in Calcutta, by Mr. F. De 

 La Mare, the Emigration Agent for the Colony. 

 1 have, &c. 



J. A. Despeissis, 

 Commissioner for Mauritius, 

 Calcutta International Exhibition. 



