COLUMBO. 
319 
Madras, some were procured, but it cannot be supposed they have 
much to spare. 
During my confinement I again read Thunberg, and was astonish- 
ed at the scantiness of liis intelhgence respecting Ceylon, and at 
his having made several very singular mistakes. Among these is his 
h aving given a long list of dishes formed from the bread-fruit, when, 
in fact, every one of them refers to the jack, a very different fruit, 
and on which the natives in a great degree subsist. They are here 
far superior to any I tasted in India, and less disgusting in their 
smell. The bread-fruit is very little used by the natives, as they have 
an idea that it produces the leprosy, Mr. North, at my request, 
repeatedly ordered it to be brought to table, but this never was 
done ; and at length his head moor servant told him it was not 
proper. The whole natural history of the island is little known, 
and no where is a finer field open to the botanist, or collector in 
other branches of natural history. Thunberg has done but little, 
and that little indifferently ; neither can I confirm his veracity, 
particularly in his account of his rate of travelling between the 
different places. If the present unfortunate war should end in the 
estabhshment of the British empire over the whole of the island, 
travelling will become safe to places to which no European has 
hitherto been permitted to approach. The national liberality will, 
in this case I hope, open the door to every scientific traveller, or 
even go farther, and induce the Government to appoint some able 
man to investigate the whole island. 
# ■ 
- # 
