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[Page 15]
from the East Indies, where it abounds so much with Resin, than from Virginia.
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The Plants which we have here enumerate in the above List, are contained in Linnæan System. Most of them have been largely described, and accurately figured, and their Species fully ascertained by Botanists. But there still remains a considerable Number of Plants that afford several Articles of the East India Commerce, which are either but imperfectly described or are altogether unknown to European Botanists. And these we have brought together and enumerate in a separate Catalogue.
Before the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, all the Products of India were communicated to Europe by the Ports in the Levant, so that we were quite ignorant where or from what they were produced. That great discovery however gave us access to the Countries from whence they came, and Opportunity to examine their Origin and History. This in some Measure has been done by the Dutch, but has been shamefully neglected by all the other European Nations, who have had any concern in the East Indies. Had it not been for the Hollanders we had at present been no better instructed in the Plants and Vegetable productions of that part of Asia, than we were, before the Expedition of Vasques de Gama.
Herman was the first Botanist of any Name who visited the East Indies, he made a large Collection of the Plants of Ceylon, which tho' brought to Europe, when he was made Professor of Botany of Lynden, in the last Century lay in obscurity, till it fell into the hands of Linnæus, who with surprizing patience and