From Wyatt Gill¹ To Baron von Müller    3 April 1884

April 3rd 1884

Dear Sir,

I enclose a drupe of a fruit eaten by me at South Cape, New Guinea, on March 24th ult. I think you might get it to grow in a hot house. There is but one drupe in a fruit. The parent tree is say 60 feet high, growing in the premises of the mission. The fruit is 3 inches across, & smells like an apple; the taste being entirely different. Instead of a hollow (as in the apple) where the stem is, the fruit seems bevelled off Colour of ripe fruit is a light green. Leaf of tree laurel-like. I saw no flowers.

Could you kindly tell me the name of this fruit? I am afraid that my description is too vague. My address is

Revd. W. Wyatt Gill, B.A.

Persica

Illawarra Road

Marrickville

Sydney, N.S.W.

Yours faithfully

W. Wyatt Gill

April 30th

I have put my hand on some more seeds of the same grand fruit; which I forward. Also 3 specimens of plants growing near the sea. I have in my possession an acorn floated down one of the Gulf rivers, given me by Mr. Chalmers.

I also send you a specimen of the New Guinea Jute plant: the plant as I plucked it up out of the ground; also the fibre prepared for use (to make twine with the palm of the hand). Tell me, please, its name & whether it is likely to be of commercial value.

Also a sort of manilla fibre, called by the natives of South Cape (where I got it) “Kacino” It is prepared from the aerial roots of a species of Pandanus, of which I enclose a spongiole.

Native name of the Jute plant is “Laquá”: the fibre is used for finer nets & bags.

I am indebted to Mr Moore of Sydney² for the transmission of this packet.

I also send on a woman’s grass(?) petticoat. My friends here say it is Jute. I doubt it; What is it?

Yours faithfully

W. Wyatt Gill

Pandanus