156 Siiggestions for the Introduction of Animals 



matter^ to produce fermentation, and thereby generate lieat. 

 In addition to tlie many interesting seeds and plants, as well 

 as fruits discovered by Dr. Leicbhardt — amongst wbicb may 

 be mentioned the bean of the INIackenzie, wbicli tliat distin- 

 guished explorer considered as a good substitute for coffee, 

 the clustering fig tree, and the seeds producing the same efiect 

 as cantharides when applied to the skin ; it is now known 

 that on some of the beautiful islands of the north-east coast au 

 excellent ground-nut grows in the utmost profusion. In re- 

 ference to the advantages that would be secured to this colony 

 by the introduction of seeds and animals from other parts of 

 the world, I would beg leave to mention the field that exists 

 here for the growth of those trees upon which the silk-worm 

 feeds, and for the production of silk. We all know that the 

 castor oil tree, or the Palma Christi, grows well in this colony, 

 and it is on the leaves of this tree that the wild Indian silk- 

 worms are fed. But by far the best variety of silk-worms we 

 can obtain is one that can be readily got from the province 

 of Canton, in China. This description of Avorm feeds upon 

 a species of Xanthoxylum, which, on account of its aromatic 

 and pungent properties, is generally called a pepper tree. Its 

 bark and capsular fruit is much used as a remedy for tooth- 

 ache, and also instead of pepper. This tree or shrub, then, 

 would be of value on its own account, but the more so because 

 it yields the proper food for those silk- worms which produce 

 the best Chinese silk, and in such quantity that, in abundance 

 as well as in quality, this species of worm excels all others. 

 But what renders this species particularly valuable for this 

 colony is the circumstance that little attention requires to be 

 bestowed upon the worms. They are wild silk- worms, and 

 do better when left to themselves. Another important fact 

 connected with them is, that the same worm will do equally 

 well on the leaves of the ash tree (which in China is nearly 

 identical with the English ash tree). 



I may also allude to an important variety of sheep that 

 might be obtained from I^adakh, or Middle Thibet, a high 

 and rugged country north of the Punjab. This is the Purek 

 sheep ; when full grown it is scarcely the size of a South- 

 down lamb of five or six months old, yet in the fineness and 

 Aveight of its fleece, and in the flavour of its mutton, added 

 to its peculiarities of feeding and constitution, it yields not, 

 says a traveller, in merit to any race of sheep hitherto dis- 

 covered. It thrives where vegetation is hardly discernible. 

 It gives two lambs within the twelve months, is sliorn t\A ice 



