ARTOCARPUS. 
trees are once introduced in a favourable directed the equipment of the ship for this 
soil and climate, so far from being obliged particular purpose. Two skilful gardeners 
to renew them by planting, it seems proba- were appointed to superintend the trees 
ble that the inhabitants will rather be and plants, from their transplantion at Ota- 
undei' the necessity of preventing their pro- heite, to their delivery at Jamaica , and 
gress ; for young trees spring abundantly captain Bligh set sail on the 2d of August, 
from the roots of the old ones, which run 1791. The number of plants taken on board 
along near the surface. Accordingly they at Otaheite, was 2634, in 1281 pots, tubs, 
never plant the bread-fruit tree at Ota- and cases; and of these 1151 were bread- 
heite. The bread-fruit is distinguished into fruit trees. When they arrived at Coupang, 
that which is destitute of seeds, and that in 200 plants were dead, but the rest were in 
which seeds are found. The natives of Ota- good order. Here they procured 92 pots 
heite reckon at least eight varieties of trees of the fruits of that country. They arrived 
which produce the former. This most use- at St. Helena with 830 fine bread-fruit trees, 
ful tree is distributed very extensively over besides other plants. Here they left some 
the East Indian continent and islands, as of them, with different fruits of Otaheite 
well as the innumerable islands of the South and Timor, besides mountain rice and other 
Seas. In Otaheite, however, and some seeds; and from hence the East Indies may 
o tliers, the evident superiority of the seed- be supplied with them. On their arrival at 
less variety for food has caused the other St. Vincent’s, they had 551 cases, contain- 
to be neglected, and it is consequently al- ing 678 bread-fruit trees, besides a great 
most worn out. We are informed by Cap- number of other fruits and plants, to the 
tain King, that in the Sandwich islands number of 1245. Near half this cargo was 
these trees are planted and flourish with deposited here under the care of Mr. Alex- 
great luxuriance on rising grounds ; that ander Anderson, the superintendant or his 
they are not indeed in such abundance, but Majesty’s botanic garden, for the use of the 
that they produce double the quantity of Windward islands ; and the remainder, m- 
fruit which they do on the rich plains of tended for the I reward islands, was con- 
Otaheite; that the trees are nearly of the veyed to Jamaica, and distributed as the 
same height, but that the branches begin to Governor and Council of Jamaica were 
strike out from the trunk much lower, and pleased to direct. The exact number of 
with greater luxuriance; and that the climate breadfruit trees brought to Jamaica was 
of these islands differs very little from that of 352, out of which five only were re- 
the West Indian islands, which lie in the served for the botanic garden at Kew. 
same latitude. This reflection probably Though the principal object of this voyage 
first suggested the idea of conveying this was to procure the bread-fruit tree, yet it 
valuable tree to our islands in the West In- was not confined to this only ; for the de- 
dies. For this purpose his Majesty’s ship, sign was to furnish the West Indian isles 
the Bounty, sailed for the South Seas, on with the most valuable productions of the 
the 23d of December, 1787, under the com- South Seas and the East Indies. Captain 
mand of lieutenant William Bligh. But a Bligh had the satisfaction, before he quitted 
fatal mutiny prevented the accomplishment Jamaica, of seeing the trees which he had 
of this benevolent design. His Majesty, brought with so much success, in a most 
however, not discouraged by the unfortu- flourishing state ; insomuch that no doubt re- 
nate event of the voyage, and fully im- mained of their growing well, and speedily 
pressed with the importance of securing so producing fruit; an opinion which subse- 
useful an article of food as the bread-fruit, quent reports have confirmed. But though 
to our West Indian islands, determined, in the fruit has been produced in great abun- 
the year 1791, to employ another ship for dance, it is said not yet to have arrived at 
a second expedition on this service; and, in that high state of perfection in which it is 
order to secure the success of the voyage described to be at Otaheite. Thunberg 
as much as possible, it was thought proper, sent seeds of the East Indian bread-fruit 
that two vessels should proceed together on tree from Batavia to the botanic garden at 
this important business. Accordingly, a Amsterdam, in 1775. In 1777, he sent some 
ship of 400 tons, named the Providence, small living plants; and the year following, 
was engaged for the purpose, and the com- he brought with him to Europe a great num- 
mand of her given to captain Bligh ; and a ber of plants, both of this and the following 
small tender, called the Assistant, com- species. But the true seedless sort, from 
manded by lieutenant Nathaniel Portlock. the South Seas, wasfirst introduced into the 
Sir Joseph Banks, as in the former voyage, island^ of St. Vincent and Jamaica, and into 
