194 JACK'S LETTEES TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 



At Singapore I got a still more extraordinary species of the 

 same genus, to all the peculiarities of the former adding the 

 singularity of polyspermous berries ! ! It may be called M. poly- 

 sperma 1{i,i and characterised as follows, " tetrandra. pedunculis 

 axillaribus et terminal] bus, corollis 4-fidis intus hirsutis, foliis 

 ovatis acuminatis, baccis bilocularibus polyspermis ! ". Botli these 

 species are very like each other in appearance and general habit; 

 their flowers agree, but the fruit is quite inexplicable. They must 

 I think come into one genus, the alliance is so close, but whether 

 they can unite with Morinda is another question, what think you?. 

 My spec, of this last have almost gone to wreck, and I only got 

 one or two; I must however send you a leaf and fruit, that your 

 eyes may be convinced. 



I look very impatiently for the letters of yours still due, 

 which have not made their appearance. I am at this moment 

 plagued with a sharp attack of rheumatism, consequent on a slight 

 touch of fever I got by a trip in the sun. It comes very mal a 

 propos, for I really have not time to attend to it. although it 

 actually lames me, and utterly banishes Mr. Somnus. What I 

 would give for full and perfect health just now! 



Give my best regards to Mrs. Wallich and believe me, 



My dear Wallich, 



Ever thine. 



William Jack. 



Series 4— Bencoolen Letters 



After the Visit to Calcutta in 1819. 



On board the Indiana off 



Tappanooly 



Feb. 27th, 1820. 

 My dear Wallich, 



There is a small vessel in company with us which goes soon 

 to Madras, I shall therefore commence an account of our proceed- 

 ings to go by her : we had a delightful breeze and a most excellent 

 passage down the bay till we approached the coast of Sumatra. 

 There and particularly about Hog Island, we were delayed by 

 calms. We reached Tappanooly on the 23rd and left it again 



166. Lucinwa Morinda, DC. which Jack described as Morinda poly- 

 spermia in the Malayan Miscellanies, i. part 5, (1820) p. 11. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



