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[Page 11]
that situation. In the Botanic Gardens marked out beds and placed number sticks for the three first Classes of Linnæus and with the assistance of a Cingalese Doctor who is at present employed on the same wages as the Coolies, and the Cingalese names in Linnæus's Flora Zeylanica although they do not in many instances correspond with the names of plants to which they refer or at least with those now in use and together with Burmans Thesaurus Zeylanicus, I have discovered many plants to be indigenous to Ceylon which have not been hitherto considered to be so, as for instance in the first Class Monandria Canna lutea, Hedicum coronarium, which were brought from the base of Adam's Peak without its been known to be so at that time but it has since flowered very finely and also Phrynium capitatum, which grows in shady places near Nambapanne, the Doctor has also brought two species of Alpinia and one of Zingiber which I have reason to believe to be new.
B.G. Colombo Transmitted to England by the ship Ajax a collection of 217 species of seeds in one Box and Basket directed to the Right Hoñble Sir Joseph Banks Bart. G.C.B. for the Royal Gardens Kew, and also a similar Box and Basket directed to the Right Hoñble Earl Bathurst for the Emperor of Austria: To prevent the Insects from destroying the seeds as much as possible packed them in wax cloth and had the Boxes made of "Nahdoon" Dalbergia Lanceolaria a wood, used for furniture and which receives a good polish.
Sent at the request of the Hoñble John Rodney Chief Secretary to Government a collection of 125 species of seeds to the Botanic Garden at Mauritius by the ship Alexander together with a list of such plants indigenous to that Island which would be acceptable to this Establishment.