TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 175 



but as you have taken the subject into consideration, I shall ad<l 

 no more to this already too much extended Letter. 



I have the honour to be, with respect, Honourable Sir, 

 your very obedient Servant, 



S^. Helena, Utk Marck, 1S13. ANDREW BERRY. 



To Dr. Berry. 

 Dear Sir, 



As you are well acquainted with the virtue of the Nopal, I send 

 you some that has been gathered by my Lascars on this island ; 

 on the arrival of the Regent, I incurred an expense of 18 to 20 

 shillings per day for a supply of greens for my ship's company, 

 which (consisting entirely of Lascars) was far from being agree- 

 able to them, and having accidentally discovered the Nopal near 

 Major Hodson's house, my men have since constantly preferred 

 using it. I have no doubt that from this preference a more 

 beneficial eflect must result to them than from the light waterish 

 kind of greens usually suppb'ed to the shipping ; as it is a plant 

 that requires little care in rearing, and scarcely any soil, I think 

 under the auspices of the present Governor, it might be raised in 

 great abundance on the rocks of this island ; there are many 

 ships that seldom give potatoes to their Lascars or Chinese ; and 

 those nations of India who have once experienced the benefit of 

 its antiscorbutic cpialities, will be able to continue it without 

 expense, and when properly strung over a ship's stern, it will 

 afford a good nutriment long after potatoes are decayed. 



I am. Dear Sir, your's obediently, 



JAMES HAIG. 



Ship Regent, March 5th, 1813. 



