H4 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



Sir Joseph Banks, or with Dr. Solander, who appear to 

 have held them in high esteem. Really, they should 

 deserve recognition with every one who knows the great 

 strides made by them in advancing Botanical Science. 



Dr. Konig, for example, was a most remarkable man. 

 He was a native of Livonia ; had studied under Linnaeus ; 

 and went on a botanic expedition to Iceland in 1765. 

 One of his discoveries there was the tiny plant since 

 called Konigia. He went to India about the year 1768, 

 as physician to the Danish settlement in the Carnatic. 

 His high qualifications were speedily recognized at all 

 the English and Danish settlements on the coast. His 

 simple and conciliating manners, and his unvarying 

 readiness to impart knowledge to others, together with 

 extraordinary enthusiasm when at work, captivated every- 

 body. Having entered the service of the Nabob of Arcot, 

 as naturalist, he presently travelled ; * and afterwards 

 threw in his lot with the Honourable East India Company. 

 He regularly corresponded with Solander. He died in 

 1785, prematurely worn out with his exertions and 

 fatigues, leaving all his papers to Banks. 



A very important character who figures in this section 

 of Banks's circle is Dr. William Roxburgh, the pioneer 

 exponent of the Indian Flora. 



Born in Ayrshire in 1751, he became one of the more 

 distinguished botanical pupils of Dr. Hope, He started 

 in life as assistant-surgeon on an East Indiaman, and on 

 reaching Madras, in 1776, secured a similar appointment 

 at the General Hospital there. In 1781 he was stationed 

 as Surgeon to the garrison at Samulcotta. Here, in the 

 midst of his professional duties, he found plenty of scope 

 for the pursuit of his favourite science. His garden was 

 devoted to the cultivation of spices and Economic plants. 

 Coffee, cinnamon, the bread-fruit, the mulberry, etc., 



1 v. Journal of a voyage from India to Siam and Malacca, in 1779, by 

 Dr. John Gerard Konig. MSS. in Nat. Hist. Museum. 



