Rough initial version of George Don's journal (volume 1 of 2)
Information
Title - Rough initial version of George Don's journal (volume 1 of 2)
Record type - Archive
Original Reference - RHS/Col/2/1/1
Date - 13 Nov 1821-19 Oct 1822
Scope & content - Rough initial version (volume 1 of 2) of George Don's travel journal, 13 Nov 1821-19 Oct 1822, describing the journey from England to Jamaica
Overview of contents:
Pages 1-29: Narrative of travel, 13 Nov 1821-26 Feb 1822
Pages 30-32: Blank
Pages 33-135: Narrative of travel, 26 Feb-19 Oct 1822
Physical description: Bound in soft paper covers marbled in red/brown shell pattern with blue veins. Labelled '2'. Dimensions: 31.5 (h) x 20.5 (w) cm. Conserved in 2018: the binding and pages were cleaned and repairs were carried out to both
This volume is the first of two volumes of the rough first copy of George Don's journal. For the second volume of the rough first copy, 20 Oct 1822-7 Feb 1823, see RHS/Col/2/1/2. For the second rough copy, 13 Nov 1881-27 Feb 1823, see RHS/Col/2/1/3-4, and for the fair copy of the journal, 13 Nov 1881-13 Jan 1823, see RHS/Col/2/1/5
The volume is written in George Don's hand, on rectos only, with occasional notes on the versos. There are some annotations and additions in Don's hand on the blank verso pages, in the margins and between the lines. Substantial annotations are included in the description and identified as such
The volume was paginated on the upper right-hand corner of rectos during cataloguing
Summary of contents:
(13 Nov 1821) Leaving London with Captain Sabine [Edward Sabine, geophysicist, naturalist and astronomer, brother of Joseph Sabine, secretary of the Horticultural Society] to join HMS Iphigenia at Portsmouth
(14 Nov 1821) Arriving at Portsmouth. Staying at the George Inn. Visiting local gardens and seeing Medicago arborea in full flower, a myrtle 15 feet high, and 'the most beautiful Lauristinus I ever saw'
(17 Nov 1821) On board the ship, but not sailing. South-westerly wind
(20 Nov 1821) Sailing from Portsmouth. Progress slow as winds strong and westerly. Moderate and cloudy. Sailing through St Helens [Isle of Wight]
(21 Nov 1821) Westerly wind, strong breezes and cloudy. Rain in the afternoon
(22 Nov 1821) Calm and cloudy. Anchoring off Weymouth
(23 Nov 1821) 'Being much exhausted by sea sickness'. Going on shore with Edward Sabine, Mr Vetch [Henry Veitch, British consul at Madeira, travelling on the ship] and a few of the ship's officers. Staying at the Royal Hotel. Visiting Portland Rocks in the afternoon, 'to see if I could fall in with Euphorbia portlandica'. Not finding it, but seeing Iris foetidissima, Oenanthe peucedanoides [unidentified], Juncus maritimus, Elymus geniculatus and Eryngium maritimum
(24 Nov 1821) Visiting small local gardens. Seeing Origanum pseudodictamnus [Origanum dictamnus], Marrubium pseudodictamnus [Ballota pseudodictamnus], Cineraria maritima [Jacobaea maritima], Medicago arborea and Myrtus, growing 'to a great size without the least protection'
(25 Nov 1821) Going on board
(31 Nov 1821) Asking the commanding officer [Robert Mends, captain of HMS Iphigenia] for a boat to Portland Rocks, 'having plenty of time on my hands'. Seeing plants including Conysa thapsoids [Conyza thapsoides], Glaucium luteum [Glaucium flavum], a curious variety of Rosa spinosissima with oblong red fruit, Euphorbia amygdaloides and Silene maritima [Silene uniflora] [here the journal includes a list of 3 more plants]. 'The wind still against us'
(6 Dec 1821) Sailing from Weymouth. Moderate breezes
(7 Dec 1821) Strong southerly and south-westerly breezes and squalls
(14 Dec 1821) [Reads 20 Dec] Westerly winds. 'Returned in latitude 44.43 longitude 10.58 west'
(19 Dec 1821) Anchoring in Torbay
(20 Dec 1821) Going on shore to visit Brixham. Edward Sabine visiting Teignmouth
(21 Dec 1821) Going out in the morning to see the countryside. Seeing Cotyledon umbilicus [Umbilicus rupestris] 'with leaves sometimes as large as a two penny piece', Rubia peregrina, Rubia tinctoria [Rubia tinctorum], and between Upper and Lower Brixham, some beautiful Cistus guttatus [Tuberaria guttata]
(24 Dec 1821) Winds changing to more favourable east-by-north-easterly. The ship preparing to sail. Staying on shore to wait for the last boat with some prisoners[?] and officers, but having difficulties boarding the ship due to the gale and surf caused by the rising wind: 'almost swamped in the attempt'. The commodore [Robert Mends] sailing without the party due to the dangerous conditions. Don returning to the inn with the officers
(25 Dec 1821) Leaving Brixham in the direction of Plymouth, hoping to find the ship. Reaching Dartmouth, six miles away, and hiring a pilot boat to Plymouth
(26 Dec 1821) Arriving at Plymouth at 4am. After going on shore for breakfast, the officers informing the admiral of the situation. The admiral sending the party on board the Pygmy schooner [HMS Pigmy] to join the ship at Falmouth [sic; Don wrote Falmouth in error, where other copies have Plymouth], 'where we expected she had gone'
(27 Dec 1821) Hearing that the ship had returned to Torbay
(29 Dec 1821) On board the HMS Pigmy. Due to high winds the commander [Thomas Hills, commander of HMS Pigmy] refusing to sail. Don and one of the admiralty midshipmen deciding to walk to Torbay, 32 miles away. Due to the rain, spending the night in Totnes, 24 miles from Plymouth, 'there being no possibility of the ship leaving Torbay'
(30 Dec 1821) Hiring a car [carriage] to Torbay from Totnes 'as we found ourselves rather fatigued with the former day's walk'. Hiring a shore boat after breakfast to go on board the ship
(31 Dec 1821) Sailing from Torbay. Seeing HMS Pigmy at a distance. The rest of the officers and prisoners[?] joining the ship. North-westerly wind
(1 Jan 1822) Slow sailing, the south-westerly winds still against them. Anchoring in Plymouth
(2 Jan 1822) Saluting the admiral. Salute returned in about two hours. Going on shore in the afternoon, seeing 'but little'. Intending to visit the seat of Lord Edgcumbe [Earl of Mount Edgcumbe], Mount Edgcumbe, 'but was deprived of that through wet'
(4 Jan 1822) Sailing from Torbay with a more favourable north-easterly wind
(11 Jan 1822) Arriving at Funchal, Madeira [Portugal]. Saluting the governor [Rodrigo Antonio de Melo, Portuguese governor of Madeira]. Landing at Funchal, 'the principle town', with Henry Veitch, Edward Sabine and some of the officers. 'Saluted Mr Vetch [Henry Veitch] on his landing which brought great crowds of people round us which made it difficult to get along'. Passing through the Custom House. Going to stay at the Consul House [Henry Veitch's residence]
Visiting Veitch's garden in the afternoon. Not seeing much, it being a wet mid-winter day. Seeing in the garden esculent [edible] vegetables and fruits, including Mangifera indica, Musa paradisiaca and Musa sapientum ('common in all the small gardens and fields about the town in great perfection'), Nerium oleander, large trees of Dracaena draco and Erythrina speciosa, 'among many other curious plants but these being neither flower nor fruit I could not ascertain what they were' [here the journal includes a list of approximately 25 more plants]
Returning through the town: 'a very confined place, the streets here are more like lanes than anything else, and must be of course very unwholesome', but considering the people 'very kind'. Seeing no wheeled carts, all loads instead conveyed by a sledge drawn by oxen [annotated: 'the island at a distance has the appearance of being one continued hill']
(12 Jan 1822) Being invited to Palmara [Quinta Palmeira Gardens, Madeira], a mile away, to see Mr Blackburn's [Henry Blackburn, merchant in Madeira] gardens, 'an opulent merchant of Madeira and who was a passenger with us'. Admiring the gardens with fine groves of orange, lemon, guava, plantations of coffee and sugar cane, and vineyards. Seeing many 'curious' plants, including Sempervivum canariense [Aeonium canariense], Aloe barbadensis, several varieties of Opuntia, Ruta pinnata and Globularia longifolia [here the journal includes a list of approximately 10 more plants]. Collecting specimens of ferns
(13 Jan 1822) Visiting Peak of Ruivo [Pico Ruivo, Madeira] on horseback with Edward Sabine, Captain Clevering [Douglas Charles Clavering, captain of HMS Pheasant], Robert Mends, Mr Whitlaw [Robert Whitelaw, surgeon on HMS Iphigenia], Henry Blackburn and Smith [John Smith, Edward Sabine's assistant]
Seeing plants including Arum esculentum [Colocasia esculenta] ('which goes under the name of yams by the natives'), Erica arborea ('an immense size some of them 6 feet in circumference'), sweet chestnut, and at 4,000 feet a small peak covered with Sempervivum tabulare and Lycopodium denticulatum [Selaginella denticulata] [here the journal includes a list of approximately 10 more plants]
Returning to the valley, unable to continue up the mountain on horseback. Sabine, 'not being contented with the observations he made here', climbing to the peak with Whitelaw. Don and the rest of the party returning down. The forests at 5,000 feet covered with plants including Laurus indica, Ilex perado, Sideroxylon inerme, Clethra arborea and Salix canariensis [here the journal includes a list of 4 more plants] [annotated: 'there are long valleys covered with Laurus species, and mountains covered with Spartium scoparium and Pteris aquilina [Pteridium aquilinium]]. The country 'beautiful far beyond description'. Stopping under trees to wait for Sabine and Whitelaw. Returning to Funchal at midnight with Sabine
(14 Jan 1822) 'I am sorry to state that it will not be in my power to do anything here through the want of time for the Society and this being the most dormant season of the year'
(15 Jan 1822) Sailing from Funchal
(17 Jan 1822) Anchoring off Santa Cruz, Teneriffe [Tenerife, Canary Islands], 'similar in appearance to Madeira, but the town is better, the streets being much wider' [annotated: 'this island is very mountainous at Santa Cruz. Thermometer 69']. The mountains covered in plants including Euphorbia piscatoria, Agave americana, Lavandula pinnata, Lappago racemosa and Opuntia decumanus [Opuntia maxima] ('the same as Mr Anderson [unidentified] received from Mexico to a great size') [here the journal includes a list of approximately 23 more plants]
A gun fired as a signal from the ship for everyone to board at 3pm, 'so we had to be as expeditious as possible to get down to the beach where there was a boat waiting for us'. Sailing from Santa Cruz [annotated: 'the only birds I saw here a few finch [finches], one or two canary birds of a darkest colour, a species of [illegible], but they were so timid that it was impossible to get within gun shot of them']
(18 Jan 1822) Still in sight of Teneriffe [Tenerife]. The weather calm and hazy
(24 Jan 1822) Coming in sight of the Cape de Verd Islands [Cabo Verde]. Seeing the mountainous islands of St Antonio [Santo Antao, Cabo Verde] and St Vincent [Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde]. Seeing a ship in a bay, 'which they supposed to be a slave vessel, but on sending a boat it was found to be an American South Sea whaler'. Seeing flying fish for the first time
(25 Jan 1822) Passing the island of Fuego [Fogo, Cabo Verde] to the west and St Jago [Santiago, Cabo Verde] to the east
(26 Jan 1822) Anchoring off Porto Prayii, St Jago [Praia, Santiago]. Landing with Edward Sabine. Seeing Phoenix dactylifera and Gossypium arboreum, 'yielding the finest cotton I ever saw'. The island dry with nothing green apart from some coconut trees. Spending the few hours on the island seeing plants including Lotus jacobaeous, Cassia occidentalis [Senna occidentalis], Aloe barbadense ('in flower which has a beautiful appearance'), Physalis somnifera [Withania somnifera] and Asclepias gigantea [Calotropis gigantea] [here the journal includes a list of approximately 10 more plants] [annotated: 'the hills and valleys are covered indiscriminately with a species of Justicia[?]']. Collecting seeds and specimens
The town 'a row or two of most miserable huts thatched with date palm leaves'. John Smith shooting birds, including a curious owl. Arranging the collected specimens on board [annotated: 'thermometer 72']
(27 Jan 1822) Going on shore before daybreak with a fishing party. The fishermen catching 'innumerable quantities of fish'. Don climbing the nearby mountains. Seeing groves of Jatropha curcas. The mountains barren and dry: 'every vegetable here was entirely scorched up'. The hill and valley covered with Polypogon, various species of Sida, Cardiospermum, and various species of Convolvulus and Ipomea [Ipomoea] in flower, the only green plant
Returning on board the ship at 9am. Going back on shore to collect insects. Going on board with the commodore [Robert Mends] in the evening [annotated: 'this day Captain Sabine [Edward Sabine] had several birds brought to him by the officers, among which was a very strange kingfisher']
(28 Jan 1822) Sailing from St Jago
(31 Jan 1822) Seeing the coast of Africa, low and covered with trees. Edward Sabine going on shore on the island of Goree [Goree, Senegal] with some of the officers. Saluting the port. French officers from nearby vessels visiting on board. Sabine bringing back specimens of Argemone mexicana, 'the only vegetable that he saw on the island with the exception of a few cocoa nut [coconut] trees'. The island reminding Don of Inchkeith in Scotland, 'if it had been destitute of houses'
Sailing towards the Gambia River [Guinea, Senegal and The Gambia] in the evening [annotated: 'the continent appearing to be quite covered with trees of Cap Verd [Cabo Verde] and quite level here at least as far as I could see. Captain Sabine learned here that C. Macarthy [Charles MacCarthy, British governor of Sierra Leone] had gone as far as Cape Coast [Ghana], which was news not favourable to us']
(1 Feb 1822) Anchoring off the Gambia River [annotated: we sent a boat up the river to a British colony, which I intended going with it but the distance being so great that it would have been impossible for me to have got on shore']. Edward Sabine and some of the officers visiting Bird Island [Ile des Oiseaux, off Senegal], 'but the boat being so full the commodore [Robert Mends] would not permit me to go, which was the same as [at] Goree [Goree]'
(2 Feb 1822) Sailing closer to the river. Anchoring. The boat sent the previous day up the river returning. Sailing again. Anchoring at St Mary Bathurst [Banjul, The Gambia]. The country low and covered with mangroves
(3 Feb 1822) Visiting the shore. The country and vegetation dry and parched. Seeing plants including Rhisaphora [Rhizophora], Avicennia africana, a species of Celtis, perhaps orientalis [Celtis orientalis] neither in flower or fruit, Adansonia, and a species of Coccoloba. Close to the river seeing plenty of large flowering Ipomoea, date palms, Plumbago zeylanica, Capparis floribunda, Dodonoea and many curious graminae [Gramineae]. Returning on board at sunset
(4 Feb 1822) Arranging specimens and seeds collected the previous day. Visiting the shore in the afternoon to see the small gardens in the colony. Seeing Hibiscus esculentus [Abelmoschus esculentus], Arachis hypogaea and a species of Phaseolus [annotated: 'here also they cultivate Convolvulus batatas [Ipomoea batatas] and likewise I saw a few plants of Musa. This day and the former I saw many swallows. The people here are very kind, and in general speak the Jolaf [Jola] language, the Mandingo [Mandinka] is spoken on the continent opposite to this island. In the fields where it had been inundated I saw Typha angustifolia], but I understand they cultivate many of our esculent plants in the wet season such as radishes and others that come quick to maturity'. Seeing Soranthus with a scarlet flower and many other beautiful shrubs
Seeing for the first time the process of extracting wine from the Elais guineensis [Elaeis guineensis] and 'the beating of the bangees, a musical instrument which is the principal amusement of the natives'. John Smith shooting many birds, 'many of them very curious and beautiful'
Hiring a canoe with Edward Sabine and Smith to return on board, 'but the current of the river was so very strong and our canoe man so weak, we were drifting fast down the river, which obliged us to hail the ship for a boat which was sent and we got on board'
(5 Feb 1822) Arranging specimens and seeds. Sailing. Anchoring to land the pilot. Sailing again
(6 Feb 1822) Anchoring opposite Cape Roxo [Guinea-Bissau and Senegal]. Sending a boat to the shore, 'but as soon as the boat landed they were overpowered by the natives armed with bows and arrows which obliged the boat's crew to retreat'. In the evening sending three manned and armed boats along the Rio Grande river [Rio Grande de Buba, Guinea-Bissau] in search of 'slave vessels'
(8 Feb 1822) Sailing towards Rio Grande [Rio Grande de Buba, Guinea-Bissau]
(12 Feb 1822) Running aground near Cape Verga [Cap Verga, Guinea] in the morning. The tide clearing the ship
(15 Feb 1822) Boats sent on 6 Feb 'in search of slave vessels' returning at 2am with news of a vessel under Portuguese protection. Sending the boats back to capture the vessel
(16 Feb 1822) Sailing for Sierra Leone
(18 Feb 1822) Anchoring off Freetown, Sierra Leone
(19 Feb 1822) Going on shore to find lodgings, but 'did not succeed as there is no possibility of getting any thing like lodgings here without paying a most immoderate sum for them'. Not finding the governor [Charles MacCarthy, British governor of Sierra Leone] at home
(20 Feb 1822) Charles MacCarthy returning
(21 Feb 1822) Going on shore 'to see how I was to be situated'. Finding that Charles MacCarthy and Edward Sabine had agreed that Don would be sent to the governor's farm on a hill above Freetown. Being introduced to the governor by Sabine. Packing boxes on board
(22 Feb 1822) Bringing boxes on shore in the morning. Having to wait for Charles MacCarthy and Edward Sabine to return from an outing. MacCarthy lending Don a mule to carry him up the hill to the farm. Seeing plants including wild pineapples, a species of Bombax ('perhaps pentandria' [Ceiba pentandra]), yellow plums, Spondias, beautiful trees of Afzelia splendens [unidentified], Costus and Ammonum Afzelii [Amomum afzelii]
Seeing in the garden ('an acre of ground cultivated') at the farm, among English vegetables and 'some of the Sierra Leone vegetables', a curious species of Hibiscus 'which they use in the place of sorrel', large fields of cassava (Jatropha manichot [Manihot esculenta]), clerodendron with clusters of scarlet flowers, another species with white flowers, and 'an excellent fruit No 1 which I put in spirits' and one or two species of Epidendrum
(23 Feb 1822) Being kept awake and tormented by 'the howling of wild beasts'. Hiring two 'Kroo men [Krumen] to help me to carry my things'
(24 Feb 1822) Visiting White Man's Bay [Sierra Leone], near Freetown. Seeing large Bombax trees and a 'curious sensitive mimosa'. Pineapples plentiful: 'you can hardly walk for them'. Being obliged to sleep on the floor in the barracks [at Fort Thornton, Freetown], 'the distance being so far and so little twilight'
(25 Feb 1822) Getting up early to return to the governor's farm, 'but the morning being so close and the hill being so steep which I had to climb to reach the farm that I was much fatigued before I reached it'. Finding some interesting plants including Epidendrum, Costus afer and Zingiber by a rivulet in the afternoon. Preserving them in spirits. Seeing a large cashew nut tree
(26 Feb 1822) Collecting fern specimens at daybreak. Climbing in nearby mountains after breakfast. Finding on the summit a small farm owned by an old woman, a Nova Scotian settler [Sierra Leone settlers; former enslaved people and free African Americans who founded Freetown]. Seeing cassava, sweet potatoes ('furrowed up in drills the same as our potatoes'), bananas, plantains, large plum trees and Maranta in her fields, and in the garden rosemary, thyme and fennel. The country covered in 'very fine' pineapples. Finding many specimens on the return journey, including four curious varieties of cotton
(27 Feb 1822) Being busily employed finding trees with Epidendrum on them. Finding a beautiful species of Neottia. Taking up roots of them and planting them in a box. Seeing a baboon or a chimpanzee for the first time
(28 Feb 1822) Going to Regent Town [Regent, Sierra Leone]. The road very good. The country covered in woods, including a beautiful mimosa and large Combretum trees ('perhaps racemosum [Combretum racemosum]'). Returning 'much fatigued'
(1 Mar 1822) 'Herbalising' in a brook between Freetown and the governor's farm. Seeing for the first time the 'country cherry of the natives', but the fruit not ripe, 'so I let it stand a week or two longer'. The tree being about 40 feet high with several species of Epidendrum on it. Acrostichum stemarium [Achrosticum stemaria] very common on the tops of the largest trees
(2 Mar 1822) Collecting specimens and seeds down the river
(3 Mar 1822) Visiting Freetown to try to find seeds of the red water tree. Finding the tree in the middle of the street neither in fruit nor flower. Collecting seeds along the river, including two 'singular' species of Rhexia. Seeing plenty of pineapples. The largest trees the country plum and Bombax pentandre [Ceiba pentandra]
(4 Mar 1822) Going along a valley south-west of Freetown at daybreak. Seeing many curious plants by a rivulet, 'but it was so infested with snakes that it [was] rendered somewhat dangerous'. Seeing a yellow and a green snake. Seeing mammee apple, the sweet and sour piscimmon [pishamin] ('excellent fruits'). Gathering bulbs of an Albuca and a strange species of Arum. Returning 'before dark, very much fatigued with the day's journey'
(5 Mar 1822) Feeling 'a little feverish' in the morning. Going to Freetown to enquire after Haemanthus multiflorus [Scadoxus multiflorus], 'but could gain no information about it from Dr Nicoll [Andrew Nicoll, medical officer in Sierra Leone], who is one of the most intelligent persons in the colony'. Finding information concerning the butter and tallow tree and other esculent and medicinal plants. Collecting specimens of black plum growing in one of the streets
(6 Mar 1822) Going to Freetown to have breakfast with Andrew Nicoll. Setting out with Dr Barry [William Barry, deputy inspector of hospitals in Sierra Leone] for Congo Town [Sierra Leone]. Seeing on the way many plants in flower, but few in seed, including many varieties of Sansaberia guiniensis [Sansevieria hyacinthoides] 'which tends to confound the many species which Mr Haworth [Adrian Hardy Haworth, botanist] has described'
Finding a beautiful species of Combretum with scarlet flowers and white floral leaves on the return journey. Returning in the afternoon and dining at Nicoll's, 'after which Dr N. proposed going out in the morning early, so I was prevailed upon to stop all night'. Nicoll lending a horse for Don to ride back to the governor's farm, having specimens with him, 'and then return after I had got my specimens put in'
(7 Mar 1822) In the morning Andrew Nicoll feverish and unable to go out. Going to Krootown [Kroo Bay, Sierra Leone] to find Bombax seeds, but not finding ripe ones. Seeing a beautiful octandrious plant with scarlet flowers. Returning for breakfast and meeting Edward Sabine. A ship due to sail to England the following day 'when I might send any boxes which I had'
Riding on horseback to Gloucester Town [Gloucester, Sierra Leone] and Liester Hill [Leicester, Sierra Leone] with William Barry, seven or eight miles away. Visiting on the way the 'Hospital for the Captured Negroes [later renamed the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital] where there were many of the people from the vessel which the Iphigenia [HMS Iphigenia] boats had taken (a few days before) infested with the upthalmie [ophthalmia]'. Finding near the hospital a beautiful tree with bell shaped flowers, probably belonging to the natural order Gentiana. Describing the country as rugged, except a beautiful species of Combretum, 'very common, which has a glorious effect'. Returning in the evening. Dining with Nicoll and staying the night
(8 Mar 1822) Returning from Andrew Nicoll's house to the governor's farm at 6am. Preparing specimens for packing 'to send per Mr Gunning [a passenger on the ship], who is expected to sail in the course of a few days'. Going out in the afternoon to collect Epidendrum to fill up a box
(9 Mar 1822) Packing seeds and specimens. In the afternoon packing a box of air plants. Collecting specimens of guinea pepper and sugar plum
(10 Mar 1822) Preparing seeds for packing
(11 Mar 1822) Packing two boxes, of specimens and seeds
(12 Mar 1822) Sending three boxes to Edward Sabine to put them on board the James, a brig sailing to England via Gambia. Searching for Haemanthus multiflorus [Scadoxus multiflorus] but not finding it. Seeing orange plants and a curious species of Gardenia
(13 Mar 1822) Searching for the fruits of country cherry and sugar plum, succeeding in finding ripe fruit of both. Planting one or two scitamineous plants to send to England
(14 Mar 1822) Going down the valley near the chief justice's [Edward Fitzgerald, British chief justice in Sierra Leone] farm. Seeing a curious species of fern growing along with Acrostichum stemaria on a rough-skinned plum tree
(15 Mar 1822) Planting a box to send to England. Going to Mr Macauly's [Kenneth Macaulay, merchant and colonial official in Sierra Leone] farm three miles away, to see a tree of African mammee apple, 'but the distance was so great that I could not reach it that night'. Seeing a strange broad-leaved Bambusa. Returning an hour after dark
(16 Mar 1822) Going about eight miles west of Freetown. Searching for young cola plants (Sterculia acuminate [Cola acuminata]), but finding none small enough. Seeing on the roadsides Cecropia, sugar plum, rough-skinned plum ('Parinarium species') and Bombax 'to an immense size'. Returning at 8pm 'much fatigued'
(17 Mar 1822) Attempting to acquire a boat to cross the river. Not finding William Barry at home, 'the person who was to get the boat'
(18 Mar 1822) Catching a few curious Lepidopleris [Lepidopleurus] insects. Discarding insects that had been destroyed by ants. Edward Sabine sending a note saying that Captain Finlayson [William Finlaison, captain of HMS Morgiana] intended to sail to London the following day. Going to Freetown for boxes
(19 Mar 1822) Packing three boxes, one containing living plants, the second seeds and the third fruits. Writing lists of the contents. Sending them to Edward Sabine to put on board
(20 Mar 1822) Cutting down trees that had Epidendrum on them, and finding two he had not seen before. Collecting specimens and seeds
(21 Mar 1822) Going to Synal Hill [Signal Hill, Sierra Leone], 21 miles away. Catching several Lepidopleris [Lepidopleurus] insects on the way. Seeing a plant, possibly Combretum, judging by the seed vessel, 'although very different in habit'. Finding a shrub resembling 'lilac of England', belonging to the same class and order (Dialium guineensis [Dialium guineense]) and with the same scent. Collecting Epidendrum. 'Although I had two men with me I could not get them to climb the tree, but on offering a dollar to any who would go up the tree and bring down any of the plants I wanted, a person appeared who would go up for the money and bring down any thing I wanted'. Intending to return on Monday, having nothing to carry the plants with.. Seeing a species of Begonia and a species of Asida[?]. Returning famished with hunger and feverish. Being unable to get food for three hours after returning
(22 Mar 1822) Visiting a hill five or six miles south of Freetown in the morning to see the mammee apple, but the tree too high to ascertain the form of the leaves. Seeing three species of Passiflora, none of them in flower but one resembling Passiflora quadrangularis. Seeing a species of Melastoma he had not seen before, 'which now makes the 6th species I have found here'. Seeing for the first time Glycine subterrania [Vigna subterranea]. Seeing a large tree with platanous shaped leaf, 'which the people called the pomegranate' and described as an excellent fruit. Seeing a 'very curious' species of Epidendrum
(23 Mar 1822) Going to Kesy Town [Kissy, Sierra Leone], three miles from Freetown, 'but a distance of 5 miles for me as living at the governor's farm'. Seeing a fine species of Bletia or Cyrtopodium, possibly a new species. Collecting specimens [crossed out: 'I met with a [illegible] who had a basket of fruit and [illegible] seed, which appeared very curious to me, but she could not tell me the name, but told me is safu tree [...]']. The fruit [annotated: 'monkey apple'], a little larger than a dove's egg, red and yellow, with flavour 'between a peach and plum'. Seeing some 'curious' Epidendrum and ferns
(24 Mar 1822) Seeing deer feeding in the governor's garden: 'they seemed to be very tame as I got as nigh as a hundred yards'. Going to the port after breakfast to see Edward Sabine about a box for living plants, but finding Sabine had gone to Bullom Shore [Sierra Leone]. Going to Freetown to find young monkey bread trees in the garden of Mr Kennedy, a merchant, but finding none. Kennedy promising to send one if he could
Returning to see Sabine in the afternoon. Sabine promising a boat to Bullom Shore for Don and William Barry. Agreeing to leave Friday morning. 'The appearance of the sky this evening threatened a tornado so I went off as soon as I could to get home before it should come on, as I had a very steep road to go'
(25 Mar 1822) Looking through specimens and putting aside the dry specimens. Collecting Lepidopleurus insects. Treading on a board with nails protruding: 'one of the nails went about one inch into the sole of my foot, which was very painful all this afternoon and I am afraid I shall not be able to go out and collecting for a day or two'
(26 Mar 1822) 'My foot being so very painful and likewise festering I could not go out and I amused myself in making a list of the esculent vegetables and fruits in Sierra Leone'
(27 Mar 1822) Going to Wellington Town [Wellington, Sierra Leone], three miles beyond Kesey Town [Kissy]. Going slowly with the painful foot: 'I was almost determined to give up, but I got some silk cotton and freed it from the seeds and put it under the sore and under the cloth shoes, covered it and then I went pretty easy'. Collecting seeds of a beautiful Cainito [Chrysophyllum cainito] and roots of the Bletia or Cyrtopodium first collected a few days ago
Stopping at a house in Wellington for refreshment. Returning a different way. Seeing a white variety of Melastoma grandiflora [Rhynchanthera grandiflora], 'which I have mentioned before as Osbeckia'. Finding a large bulb of a Caladium. Returning at 1am, his foot very painful
(28 Mar 1822) Not going out due to his painful foot. Arranging the box of insects. Checking specimens to see if they were free of insects. Receiving a message that a boat could not be arranged until Monday for Bullom Shore [Sierra Leone]
(29 Mar 1822) Going to King Tom's point [Kingtom, Sierra Leone], three miles away, the pain in his foot having eased and worrying about the short time remaining in Sierra Leone. Seeing a beautiful species of Combretum, different from those seen before, the fifth species of the genus seen in Sierra Leone: 'now I do not know which to prefer for beauty'. Seeing a curious species of Limodorum ('Eulophia species?') with green flowers, and bringing a specimen to pack in the box of Epidendrum, if Edward Sabine had the box ready. The most common trees being the butter and tallow tree, Christmas bush and the monkey apple. Almost getting lost in the thicket due to multiple paths. Finding a canna. Returning after dark, his foot very painful after the walk
(30 Mar 1822) Packing up seeds and arranging specimens. Collecting insects. Intending to send a box home
(31 Mar 1822) A 'tornado' in the night with thunder and lightning. Going to Freetown to Edward Sabine for the box but it was not ready. Hearing that Sabine had found bulbs of Haemanthus multiflorus [Scadoxus multiflorus] at the Sugar Loaf Mountain [Sierra Leone]. Intending to go to the same place to collect bulbs [annotated: 'I have postponed my going to Bullom Shore [Sierra Leone] for a few days']
(1 Apr 1822) Setting off at 6am on horseback for the Sugar Loaf Mountain, where Edward Sabine had discovered the bulbs of Haemanthus multiflorus [Scadoxus multiflorus]. Seeing a curious species of Salvia. In Regent Town [Regent] stopping for breakfast with Rev William Johnston [William Johnson, missionary in Sierra Leone], who 'sent me a man as a gui
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