June f, 1895.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 82 r 
A LUST CINCHONA-PIONEER FOUND. 
Most of the cinchona " pioneers," who were con- 
nected with the introduction of the quinine-yielding 
plants from South America into British India ana 
Java, and with the first cultivation-experiments, are 
now dead. We have from time to time recorded the 
decease of men, such as Dr. Spruce and Dr. Hass- 
kari, who had withdrawn from the scene of their 
life-work and were living in the retirement which 
they probably liked best, " the world forgetting, 
by the world forgot." One of the "pioneers" 
whose death was announced long ago was Mr. 
Charles Ledger, in whose honour the Lite Mr. J. 
E. Howard named the variety of Cinchona Calisaya 
of which the plants were first introduced into 
commerce by Mr. Ledger, then a more or less iti- 
nerant trader in wool, cinchona-bark, and other South 
American products. Mr. Ledger, like most of his 
brethren among the cinchona-pioneers, had his troubles 
with the authorities in the matter of remuneration 
for his services, but with the establishment, upon a 
firm basis, of the cinchona-culture of the East, the 
public interests in the men who had brought the first 
shipments of the plants from South America died 
out, and one by one the greater number fell out of sight. 
Mr. Charles Ledger w as supp sed to have died a good 
uixiiy years ago at Xucuman, in Argentina, well 
advanced in years, and in none too flourishing circum- 
stances. His death is recorded in several text books 
on cinchona, but when, some time ago. inquiries 
were made in South America concerning the year of 
his decease, nothing could be ascertained beyond an 
assertion that he was no longer alive. Singulaily 
enough, however, we have just received a letter from 
Mr. Ledger, who is still living, we hope in good 
health, in New South Wales, and turns out te be a 
reader of this journal. Mr. Ledger's letter was 
written principally to throw some light upon the 
identity and uses of a certain inga-rlower which is often 
found mixed with South American coca-leaves, and on 
which Mr. R. G. Guyer read a paper at the Chemists' 
Assistants' Association in December last. Mr. Ledger 
incidentally refers to his Indian servant Manuel 
Yncra Mamani, to whom he was himself indebted for 
his knowledge of the Ledger cinchona, and who died 
in consequence of injuries inflicted upon him by the 
Bolivian authorities for having betrayed the secret 
of the origin of the best cinchona-bark to a foreigner. 
It was in 18H5 that Mr. Ledger received from 
Mamani the first parcel of seed of the cinchona 
variety which has since been called after him. At that 
time the cinchona-plantations in British India and 
Java were in their infancy, and they did not include 
any of this special variety of " Calisaya." Mr. Ledger 
sent the parcel of seed to his brother in London, who 
offered it for sale to the British Government. The 
authorities, however, delayed the conclusion of the 
bargain, and at last Mr, Ledger disposed of half the 
lotto Mr. J.W. B. voneyy an Anglo-Indian cinchona- 
planter. The remainder Mr. Ledger sold to the 
J)utch Government, who made him a payment on 
account of about 8/. 10s, and when it turned out 
after a year that over 20,000 of the seeds had germi- 
nated satisfactorily in Java, made up the sum to SO/. 
Mr. Ledger expressed his satisfaction, and in 1871 
wrote from South America, offering to supply more 
seed on tlu same terms. I he Dutch Government 
accepted, but, according to Mr. Van Gorkoms, the 
late director of the Java cinchona-plantation, Mr. 
Ledger failed to send any further supplies. In L876 
he nevertheless petitioned the Dutch Government 
for a further grant on account of the first parcel, 
and received 100/, in settlement of his claims. At 
present the Government plantations in Java alone 
contain many millions of Ledgeriana trees, which 
furnish the most valuable of all the commercial 
cinchona-barks, the average equivalent of sulphate of 
quinine in the Ledger bark from the Java Govern- 
ment plantations being f>\">0 per cent, that of the 
Officinalis bark only :V12 per cent, while of the total 
crop of about 040,000 lb. in the Government 
gardens last year, 665,000 11) consisted of Ltd- 
yrriana hark. The late Mr. J. E. Howard was 
always of opinion that Mr. Ledger had not been 
103 
adequately remunerated for his services by the Dutch 
Government ; but even if that should be the case land 
150/. does not seem an excessive remuneration for the 
seed from which have sprung three-fourths of the 
whole cinchona wealth of Java), it would now probably 
be too late for that gentleman to press his claims with 
any prospect of success. 
It will, however, be interesting to learn how the 
report of Mr. Ledger's death came to be circulated, 
and why that gentleman has refrained for so many 
years from giving any sign of life to the outside world. 
We hope shortly to be able to clear up this mystery. 
— Chemist and Ditiggist, April 6. 
MR. CHARLES LEDGER. 
In our correspondence columns will be found a 
letter from Mr. Clements R. Markham, c.b., f.u.s., 
President of the Royal Geographical Society, calling 
attention to the almost destitute condition of Mr. 
Charles Ledger, the introducer into the East of the 
most valuable variety of all the cinchonas. There 
can be no doubt that Mr. Ledger has been very 
shabbily rewarded for the service he rendered to 
medicine, pharmacy, and civilisation generally. It 
may be said that Mr. Ledger's connection with the 
introduction of the Ledgeriana seed was a purely 
commercial transaction. He received his price for 
the seed he supplied, and there was the end of it so 
far as concerned the buyers. That seems to have been 
the view of the Government of India, who refused to 
entertain the application for some remuneration which 
was made on Mr. Ledger's behalf by Mr. Markham 
some years ago. We doubt whether, as a matter of 
bare commercial principle, it would be possible for 
Mr. Ledger to show any cause wiry either the Dutch 
or the Indian Governments, to whom, for a hundred 
pounds or so, he supplied seed that has produced 
cinchona-bark worth many thousands of times the 
sum paid for it, should do anything for him in his 
old age. Fortunately, however, for those in distress, 
sentiment counts for something in the government 
of the world, and we trust that many private per- 
sons, especially among the planters, importers, 
brokers, and manufacturers, who have reaped large 
profits out of their dealing in Ledgeriana bark in 
the past, will show some practical sympathy with 
the man who was the immediate cause of the pro- 
duction of the wealth they handled so profitably, but 
of whose actual existence many of them nave, perhaps, 
scarcely beeu aware. It is unfortunate for Mr. Ledger 
that his destitution should become known at a time 
when the cinchona-industry is less profitable than it 
ever has been ; but for all that we hope that those 
engaged in it will feel it due to themselves to keep 
Mr. Ledger from actual want during the last years 
of bis life. Contributions may be sent to Clements 
j R. Markham, Esq., c.b., f.r.s. (President of the Royal 
Geographical Society), 21 Ecclestou Square, London, 
I S.W., or the Editor of The Chemist and Druggist, 
42, Cannon Street, E.G., will pass to Mr. Markham 
auy amounts which may be sent to him. — Chemist 
ana Druggist, April ti. 
Mr. Charles Ledger, the Cinchona-pioneer. 
Sir, — Simultaneously with the publication of the 
letter from Mr. Charles Ledger in your issue of 
March 23, I received a communication from that 
gentleman, who was tho first man to supply the 
. British and Dutch Governments with the seed of the 
I / incliona Calisaya Ledgeriana, from which millions of 
trees have since been cultivated in India, Ceylou, 
and Java. Mr. Ledger tells mo that he is now 77 
] years of age, and is reduced to penury owing to the 
1 failure of Australian banks. lie onlvhasS/. a month 
' to subsist upon. This is, in my opinion, most dis- 
' graceful to the Government of India, to whom the 
| Cinchona Ledgeriana has proved most valuable. In 
1880 I made a strong representation of Mr. Charles 
Ledger's services to the Secretary of State for India, 
and urged that some remuneration should he granted 
to him. The reply, after a delay of four mouths, was 
I a curt refusal.— Yours truly. Clements R. Markham. 
I 21 Eccleston Square, S.W.— Und. 
