90 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



which have but a puny appearance in their exiled state, but here in 

 luxuriant condition. The Scitamineae and Orchideae are almost endless. 

 I observed Maranta zebrina, 1 Maranta sp. small, lately figured at Bays- 



wa ter several species unknown, Gloxinia speciosa 2 and one new species 



sent in the box ; Passiflora racemosa, P. microcarpa, two species of Rhexia, 

 very fine. |ln Mr. Harrison's garden is a sort of fruit between a lemon 

 and orange. The form and colour is exactly that of a lemon. It has 

 not the acidity of the former or saccharine of the latter ; partakes of 

 both and most assuredly a much pleasanter fruit than either. I am not 

 aware of such being cultivated in England ; it might be an acquisition 

 to have it. Young plants of it would have been sent if they had been 

 able to stand the voyage. He informs me that the seeds do not vegetate./ 

 I never saw a place that was more inviting ; and never laboured under 

 greater disadvantages : during my stay on shore of twelve days only 

 six of them were fair ; | many of the specimens collected were useless, 

 and more to my disadvantage having to dry them at sea, hampered up 

 in such a small vessel. Collected two boxes of plants, which were to 

 leave for England in a few days, for the Society. This afterwards I 

 thought as useless work, for they would arrive in England in the winter. 

 On the other hand, I regretted to allow any opportunity to pass without 

 endeavouring to fulfil the objects of the Society. I thought it better 

 to pack them in close boxes as there would be no room for them on deck ; 

 however, I hope they will reach London in such a state as will at the 

 least compensate for the expense of collecting. Mr. Harrison kindly 

 undertook to see they would be sent with one of the vessels employed by 

 himself. My collection of dry plants, amounting to nearly two hundred 

 species, I have to take with me, not being perfectly dry, and am prevented 

 from ascertaining them for want of a book of general reference. 



October 8th. Wrote to Joseph Sabine, Esq., to Mr. Munro, to Mr. 

 Atkinson, and to my brother, and made preparation for sailing. 



Saturday, 9th. Mr. Dickson gave me a 10 bill on the Society to 

 purchase several articles for the voyage and the country I was to visit. 

 All these things were done for me by his people with his usual politeness. 

 Being the expected day before sailing he invited some of his friends in 

 town, Mr. Louden, the Admiral's Secretary, and Dr. Scott, his physician, 

 to dinner to meet me. The good feeling and harmony that were shown by 

 every guest at table among themselves and good wishes towards my welfare 

 at parting was, I must confess, gratifying to me. I left their agreeable 

 society at eight in the evening. Just as I stepped in the boat it began to 

 rain heavily, with thunder and lightning. I had to take off my coat 

 and vest to keep my specimens dry. I had among the numerous vessels 

 ying in harbour some difficulty in finding the right one, she having hauled 

 out to a more commodious place for sailing since I was last on board. 



Sunday, October 10th. Cloudy, with light rains ; at midday the sun 

 broke through. But little wind, and that contrary for sailing. At five 

 o'clock went on shore. Mr. D. was from home ; I spent two hours with 



1 Calathea zebrina, Ind. Kew. fasc. iii. p. 166. 



2 Sinningia speciosa, Ind. Kew. fasc. ii. p. 1036. 



