24 TlMEHRI. 
several other eastern plants of beauty or utility, intended 
for the French colony at St. Domingo. Special care 
was taken of them during the voyage and there was 
every probability of their arriving at their destination in 
good health, but fortunately or unfortunately the vessel 
was captured by Lord Rodney, and its contents taken 
to Jamaica, whence in a few years the plants were 
distributed over the West Indies. The story of the 
Mutiny of the Bounty should be of the greatest interest 
to West Indians, as that vessel was fitted out purposely 
for the introduction of the bread-fruit. After the disas- 
ters of Capt. Bligh'S first expedition another was soon 
fitted out, and in the year 1793 he arrived at Jamaica 
with a fine collection of plants, including bread-fruit 
Otaheite gooseberry, and some of our most handsome 
garden flowers. By the agency of man most of the half- 
wild fruits and flowers which are so common everywhere, 
were introduced from distances which were tremendous 
in the age of sailing vessels and before the discovery of 
Wardian cases. The failures were numerous, many and 
many a time the plants died on the passage, but in the 
end success rewarded the collectors. When allowances 
are made for the deficient means of communication, the 
number of privateers and even pirates, and the fa6t that 
the West Indies was a naval battle-field (if such a term 
is admissible) it is almost wonderful that the mango 
should be common in Essequebo in the time of Dr. ROD- 
SCHE1D, about twenty years after the introduction of a 
few small plants into Jamaica. 
About the year 1690 the governor of Batavia having 
succeeded in raising a few coffee plants from seed 
obtained from Mocha, sent one to Amsterdam from 
