felt by every family in the town, his own not excepted. Captain Phillip’s request was, however, laid before the council, without whose concurrence in such a business the governor could not act; and in a few days he was informed, that every article which he had demanded was ordered to be furnished.
So soon as the transports were properly prepared for their reception, the stock intended for the colony was embarked; viz. 1 bull, 1 bull-calf, 7 cows, 1 stallion, 3 mares, and 3 colts; together with as great a number of rams, ewes, goats, boars, and breeding sows, as room could be provided for.
As it was earnestly wished to introduce the fruits of the Cape into the new settlement, Captain Phillip was ably assisted in his endeavours to procure the rarest and the best of every species, both in plant and seed, by Mr. Mason, the King’s Botanist, as well as by Colonel Gordon, at that time the commander in chief of the troops at the Cape; a gentleman whose thirst for knowledge amply qualified him to be of service to the colonists, not only in procuring a great variety of the best seeds and plants, but in pointing out the culture, the soil, and the proper time of introducing them into the ground*[1].
The following plants and seeds were procured at the Cape and at Rio de Janeiro.
At Rio de Janeiro.
- Coffee,—both seed and plant.
- Cocoa,—in the nut.
- Cotton,—seed.
- Banana,—plant.
- Oranges,—various sorts, both seed and plant.
- Lemon,—seed and plants.
- Guava,—seed.
- Tamarind.
- ↑ * It is with regret the author is obliged to close this mention of such a valuable man, by stating that he fell a sacrifice to the party which prevailed at the time when the English forces took possession of the Cape.
Prickly
