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missionary from those islands, I mentioned the statement above al- 

 luded to, and was surprised to find that there are several inaccuracies 

 in it. The latter part of the statement would induce a supposition in 

 the mind of any one not acquainted with the Flora of those islands, 

 that the banana was first introduced there by Mr. Williams, but my 

 informant states that the banana is indigenous there, and that it was 

 only another species which Mr. Williams introduced ; the fruit of 

 which, as experience has proved, is not liked by the natives nearly so 

 much as that of the native species. There were about twelve diffe- 

 rent kinds of banana growing freely in the islands previously to the 

 introduction of the Musa Cavendishii by Mr. Williams; but whether 

 these are all, or only some of them, distinct species, I am unable to 

 say, as my informant (the Rev. J. B. Stair), not being a botanist, 

 can give only the native names of them. Although, however, Mr. 

 Williams's benevolent intentions in taking out the Musa do not ap- 

 pear to have effected the end he had in view, I may, perhaps, be al- 

 lowed to state, that a very substantial benefit would be conferred 

 upon those islands if, when the " John Williams " (which is now, I 

 believe, on her way home) next sails from England thither, some be- 

 nevolent botanist or society would supply her with a Ward's case or 

 two, filled with healthy, living specimens of some of the more impor- 

 tant medicinal plants, such as Cephaelis Ipecacuanha, some of the 

 most useful species of Cinchona, Cocculus palmatus, any of the Sen- 

 na-bearing Cassias, Punica Granatum, Ipoincea Jalapa, Rheum pal- 

 matum, Smilax officinalis, &c. The Colocynth, and some species of 

 Aloe and Ricinus seem to have been introduced there already. The 

 natives suffer greatly from intermittent fevers, scrophulous diseases, 

 elephantiasis, inflammatory affections, &c. Some native teachers 

 were sent to an island where the inhabitants were still in a state of 

 barbarism and paganism ; and ere the " John Williams " visited them 

 again, five of their number had been cut off by intermittent fever, and 

 their scanty supply of medicine exhausted. There being at present 

 no professional aid on the islands, the natives are compelled to resort 

 to their missionaries for such medical aid as they are able to afford, 

 while, from the great distance of any place whence medicines can be 

 procured (Sydney, the nearest, being 4000 miles from a considerable 

 part of the islands), and from the infrequency of communication, the 

 supply of medicine is very uncertain. The prices charged at Sydney 

 are very high, being 100, 150, 200 per cent., or even more, above 

 English prices, so that they have not the means of procuring a suffi- 

 cient sup])ly. It would therefore be a most important benefit to the 



