128 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



vessel will have no cargo whatever but the plants on 

 board, there will be abundant room for water-casks, 

 of which she must be supplied with as large a quantity 

 as possible, that the gardener may never be refused the 

 quantity of water he may have occasion to demand. 



" No Dogs, Cats, Monkeys, Parrots, Goats, or indeed 

 any animals whatever must be allowed on board, except 

 Hogs and Fowls for the Company's use ; and they must 

 be carefully confined to their coops. Every precaution 

 must be taken to prevent or destroy the Rats, as often as 

 convenient. A boat with green boughs should be laid 

 alongside with a gangway of green boughs laid from the 

 hold to her, and a drum kept going below in the vessel 

 for one or more nights ; and as poison will constantly be 

 used to destroy them and cockroaches, the crew must 

 not complain if some of them who may die in the ceiling 

 make an unpleasant smell. 



"As it is likely that the easterly winds will prevail 

 to the south of the Line from the month of March to that 

 of September, it is to be hoped that the vessel will be 

 fitted out with as much despatch as is convenient, with a 

 view of her not losing a year, which will be the case if she 

 misses the first monsoon. 



" Her first destination will be New Zealand, where she 

 is to take on board two tubs of flax plants. From thence 

 she is to proceed to the Society Isles, where she must stay 

 till the gardener has produced a full stock of Bread-fruit 

 trees ; and if Otaheite, which will probably be visited 

 first, should not supply a sufficient number of such as are of 

 a proper age for transplanting, she must proceed to Imao, 

 Maitea, Huaheine, Ulietea, and Bolabola, and stay till 

 enough are procured. 



" She is next to proceed toward the Endeavour Straits, 

 which separate New Holland from New Guinea ; and if 

 she wants water in her passage she may put into the 

 Friendly Isles in making the Straits, which lie in Lat. 



