From Thomas Howie   20 April 1877

D^r Sir

a young gentelman of this place a beleaver in science requists me to make the following statement as he like myself thinks if you are not already aware of it, it might be a link that would enable you to solve the great work you have already progresed with

(viz) In the year 1863 whilst working in the Colony of Victoria Australia at gold mining on the devide between the head of the Golbourn and the Yara rivers I discovered that many of the Young Ferns Shrubs that I dug up that the roots were alive and moved like worms or Grubs¹   In fact they were not so repulsave haveing the apearance more like small human fingers than any thing I could compair them to   the lower ends had more life than the uper part which resembeled the ordinary roots of other shrubs   I observed that theire were genarly three live roots to each plant

if the foregoeing should be of any service to you all I ask of you is to acknolage it by droping me a few lines eather to my adress In this countray or to to my sister M^rs H Carson 25 St Pauls Place Cannonbury Islington London England²   if to the later I will be shure to get it

very respectfully | Tho^s Howie

P O Box 104 Vinita | Cherokee Nation | Ind Ter | U S America

PS I am well known In Australia being the first white man that ever crossed the Australian Alps from Gipps Land via the Baw Baw range and the first to discover the head watters of the La Trobe the Yara and Big river   I succeded whare D^r Müller failed eaven with Black Guides   My report was published in the Melbourne argus Feby 14^th 62 or 63 and is on file In the National Liberary Melbourne³