From:
John Frederick William Herschel
To:
William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse
Date:
21 June 1850
Source of text:
MM/16/154, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JDH describes journey from Dacca [Dakha] to Cherrapoonji [Cherrapunji], compares landscape & weather en route to that of the Ganges & Mahanuddy. Lists species collected: (Ceratopteris) Parkeria, Aeginetia (pedunculata), Euphrasia. JDH left the Soormah at Chattuk & visited Mr Harry Inglis. Describes mountains of Khassya. Collected in swamps & river banks in Pundiah. Received supplies from Falconer: brown paper, boxes, stopper bottles, spirits of wine. Travelled from Punduah to Terrya Ghat by elephant & boat to begin ascent to Churra. Compares scenery to Himalaya, Brazil & Sikkim hills. Lists plants: Areca Palm, Rubiaceae, Apocyn., Euphorbiaceae, Pandanua, Phyllanthus, Eurya, Antidesma, Bamboo, Vaccinium, Rubiaceae, Cleyera, Viburnum, Crotalaria, Camellia, Uvaria, Photinia, Olea, Vernonia, Callicarpa, Premnia, Helicia, Saurauja, Fig, Acacia stipularis, Symplocos, Sethia, Eriocaulon, Polygona, grasses, Cyperaceae, Hypercium, Habenaria, Murdannia, Burmannia, Cyanotus, Haloragis. Describes landscape including Tipperah, Khassya, Sylhet, & compares flooded land to Purneah in Darjeeling. Describes rainfall, native tombs, & compares land to England & Scotland. Explains housing arrangements, collectors & carriers employed, & expenses. Discusses problems of transporting tropical specimens, lists those collected: palms viz Calamus, Wallichia, Chamaerops, Areca, Caryota urens, Hodgsonia, Roxburghs. Comments on opening herbarium to public. Refers to Courtenay & giving Bellenden Ker Rhododendrons. Asks about seeds sent to WJH. Hopes Bentham & Wallich will write about Wight’s work on Icones in Calcutta [Kolkata] , Neilgherries [Nilgiris?] & Madras. Mentions Lobb’s dried specimens & behaviour. Mentions next journey via Surureen to Myrong. Requests Tassin’s map of Eastern Bengal from Wylds, Arrowsmith, or Mr Melville. JDH's Illustrations are all botanical he has had no time for geological drawings. Mentions Captain Cave’s watercolours. Requests volume of De Candolle.
Asks JH's opinion on candidates for Copley Medal to be presented in November.