riety of different species of ether plants, and after remaining twenty-three weeks, which were busily occupied, set sail on the 4th of April 1789. But it is unnecessary to say more of the expedition, which was rendered totally abortive by a mutiny ensuing three weeks subsequent to its departure ; the cause of which still remains in obscurity. The Captain and eighteen adherents were barbarously turned adrift in an open boat, wherein they suffered incredible hardships, and, after a navigation of 8600 miles, reached the Island of Timor, having lost only one of their number, who was murdered by the ea vages of an intermediate Island. Notwithstanding the unfortunate result of this voyage,*the object was still kept in view, and a new expedition planned with still greater precaution than the former; and it has been mid that his present Majesty, King George III. took a lively interest in conferring so important a benefit on a distant part of his people.
• Captain Bligh having arrived in E*and, was ap pointed to the command of the As• ' sistance, two vessebi specially fitted out as before ; and part of their complement consisted of two gar dener*, to take She management of she Pints ;col lected. The vessels sailed in August 1791, reached Van Diemen's Land in February 1798, and anchored at Otaheite in February following. Here they re mained above three months. and obtained even a _greater store of plants than formerly; for there were now 1281 pots and tubs, whereas the fist SWM' of the bread-fruit-trees, in 1789, did not exceed 887. Captain Bligh, in returning, made a dangerous toy age through Endeavour Straits, the exploring of which was part of his former instructions, and an chored at Coupang in the Island of Timor, where be substituted many other plants for those that bad died. He then sailed for the West Indies, and, touching at St Helena, landed some bread-fruit plants, and look on board those of different species. ,Che object of his voyage was at length completed by reaching the Island of St Vincent's in January 1793, where be committed 644 plants, of which 338 were to the awe of Dr Anderson, Superintendent of the Botanical Garden, and substi tuted for them 467 of different species, designed for his Majesty's garden at Kew. in the next place, Captain Bligh landed 623 plants, of which 347 were bread-fruit, at Port Royal the bland of Jamaica, and replaced them with a farther collection for the King, with which he arrived in England on the 2d of August 1793. Five years and eight months had thus been occupied in accomplishing the de sirable purpose of these two expeditions. But it
belonged especially to Britain, by whom a falai liar intercourse with the southern Islanders was first opened up, to effect an object of so much import ance.
Nevertheless, some have been found inclined to the wisdom of so difficult mid expensive an experiment; both because the expectations of those who looked for an inexhaustible source of subsistence were not speedily realised; and be cause the places the best adapted for its culture readyanother vegetable, the plantain, which is much more grateful to she Degrees, Sur whom the bread-fruit was principally designed.. It has been argued, that the bread-fruit-tree requires consider able care in cultivation, that its progress to maturity is slow, though in Britain it would appear extremely rapid. Three years are required to reap the fruit; the plantain demands no care, while it produces its crop is fifteen months; thus giving it a decided preference in the opinion of the Colonist, who is al ways impatient for a return. Further, that wher ever any vegetable, already relished by the iahabi tsars of a district, is completely established, they will always reject what they think less agreeable. These arguments have certainly had considerable weight; probably, however, from not duly appreci ating the difficulties attendant on such an experi ment as the naturalisation of plants. But were we go take a retrospect of all the obstacles which have the cultivation of many species of gr via opposed at present not uncommon in Britam, it would be very evident that success has resulted only from the most patient and laborious attention. Pa skive conclusions on this object, are perhaps as yet premature.
In the year .11170) (premium was Arend by ills Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Mann ' factures, to any individual who should bring the bread-fruit plant from the South Sea Islands in a state of vegetation to the West Indies, end the gold medal was awarded, in 1793, to Captain Bligh accord ingly. That Society, with the laudable design of promoting its culture, continued to offer further pre miums for the greatest number of plants raised in the British settlements ; and in consequence a silver medal was awarded to Dr Anderson, Superintendent of the Botanical Garden at St Vincent's in 1798; and, in 1802, the gold medal to the Honourable Jo. seph Robley, Governor of the Island of Tobago. From the course adopted by these two Cultivators, the history of the bread-fruit has received much elu cidation, and we shall comprise it in a few observa tions.