SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 27 



and, after a safe voyage from thence, they landed 

 at Deal, Wednesday, June 12, having been absent 

 three years. 



One very important consequence of this voy- 

 age, and which was brought about chiefly by the 

 influence of Mr Banks, was the introduction, in 

 1793, of the Bread Fruit Tree (Artocarpus incisa, 

 and Artocarpus integrifolia) into the West Indies. 

 It is a native of the South Sea Islands. In refe- 

 rence to this event, Bryan Edwards observes : 

 " Among all the labours of life, if there is one 

 pursuit more replete than any other with benevo- 

 lence, more likely to add comforts to existing 

 people, and even to augment their numbers by 

 augmenting their means of subsistence, it is cer- 

 tainly that of spreading abroad the bounties of 

 creation, by transplanting from one part of the 

 globe to another such natural productions as are 

 likely to prove beneficial to the interests of 

 humanity. In this generous effort Sir Joseph 

 Banks has employed a considerable part of his 

 time, attention, and fortune ; and the success 

 which, in many cases, has crowned his endeavours 

 will be felt in the enjoyments, and rewarded by 

 the blessings of posterity."* 



At his return, Mr Banks was received with 

 enthusiasm by all ranks. He had been some time 



* History of the West Indies. 



