100 REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO AND FROM CHINA. 
fill the night air with their numbers and noise. Sleep fled from our 
pallet; and though we had taken the precaution to anoint every 
exposed part of our body with lime-juice, yet long before the return of 
morning we felt that we were ornamented with many embossings 
which we never had before. The musquito of India and the large 
spotted-leg gnat of England are the same species. 
On the next day after our arrival we received an invitation from 
Dr. James Anderson, Physician-General to the Forces, to pay him a 
visit of a few days at his villa near Madras. This we willingly 
accepted, and not only for reconnoitring the woods and jungles of the 
country, but for the pleasure of seeing the Doctor’s fine collection of 
plants, which he had collected from all parts of hither India. We met 
a most cordial reception, as well from the Doctor himself as from his 
nephew, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Berry, who was then staying with him. 
Both these gentlemen were good botanists, and from them we learned 
many particulars relative to transporting seeds and plants. 
Dr. A. was then busy in introducing the silk-worm and its manage¬ 
ment into that part of India, and had large buildings and many hands 
employed in the business, and, when we were there, with every 
prospect of success. 
We were also invited to visit J. Call, Esq., who had fine gardens 
laid out in the English manner—groups of trees, and clumps and 
borders of shrubs and herbaceous plants of all the choicest natives of 
India, as well of the adjacent countries. 
We also visited the venerable Nabob of Arcot at his palace a few 
miles to the westward of Madras. His Highness had some idea of 
sending us to Arcot to superintend the planting of the apple trees 
which had been presented to him. We had the honour of conversing 
with his Highness in English about the treatment of European fruits 
in India in the midst of his courtiers. He was then about eighty 
years of age, and certainly the most majestic personage we ever saw. 
There was every sign of oriental grandeur within the palace, but 
nothing to attract the eye of a botanist. His stud of elephants and 
collection of royal tigers were, however, imposing sights to a stranger. 
Having explained to one of the linguists what should be done with 
the trees, the idea of our proceeding to Arcot was abandoned. 
We were next invited to spend a few days at an estate belonging to 
Mr. Solicitor General Popham, at Vellore, thirteen miles to the north¬ 
east of Madras, to assist that gentleman with our advice in forming an 
extensive plantation of the Bourbon species of the cotton tree. Here, 
in the midst of extensive jungle, and where cultivation had not much 
changed the natural face of the country, we remained three weeks. 
