t2 



NATURAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE EAST INDIES. 



Sun hemp. 



East India 

 canvas. 



crowns, you will also see we have not been insensible of the 

 attentions of the Society of Arts. 



I am not relaxing in my pursuit after substitutes for 

 bemp and flax ; some more experiments are beginning, 

 and are very far advanced, which promise success, that is, 

 cultivating our sun or Indian hemp, during. the dry season, 

 as practised at or near Bombay, and at Malabar, where 

 their sun or hemp has been reckoned in London equal to, 

 if not better, than the best Russia hernp. 



Canvas is now made here in very large quantities by 

 two or three clever Europeans, from the common sun plant 

 of this country, of so very good quality, as to have nearly 

 superseded English canvas throughout India. This is gain- 

 ing a great point, if England should ever be pushed for the 

 raw material, as the freight of canvas from hence to Europe 

 will be trifling when compared to the freight of the raw 

 article. 



I was told in England that lignum vitae was becoming 

 scarce and dear. I am inquiring after a substitute, but hi- 

 therto without any pointed success. Should I meet with 

 any kind of wood, that promises well, I will send the So- 

 ciety a specimen, and another specimen of a kind of very 

 Elegant black beautiful elegantly veined black wood for furniture, calle<| 

 here seet-saul. 



I remain, yours, very sincerely, 



W. ROXBURGH, 



Botanic Garden, neat Calcutta, 

 Feb 9, 1808. 



Lignum vitas. 



veined wood. 



He'-in of Vale- 

 ria irif'.ica. 



Irictiou. 



My dear Sir, 



Since my last, of the 9th of February, this year, I have 

 got some farther matters to communicate. In the first 

 place, this will be accompanied by a sample of the resin of 

 the large Malabar tree, called hj hota.u\sts Valeria indica* . 

 It appears to me to resemble amber more than copal. It may 

 perhaps be very pure copal, and in this state, like amber 



• No. 1564 of my drawings of Indian Plants, sent to the Court of Di- 

 rector?. 



when 



