PREFACE.
Koeiilg, a ,Kl l n g l.is slender sdai)' at Tranquebar imulEdeiU for the expellee oF requisite excursions
into ll,e country, however rmgally conducted, was, by the interest of friends, introdnced as a naturalist
to the Nabob of Arcot, i„ whose service he remained for several years; dming wh.ch he made
excursions among the hills near Velore, Amboor, &c. and afterwards made a voyage to the island of
Hi's frequent residence at Madras, while in the Nabob's service, naliirally led him into a more
familiar intercourse with the English, of whom several seized the opportunity of profiting by hi, instruction.
Dr. James Anderson, the present physician general at Fort St. Geoige, when he occasionally
speats of mineralogy, always mentions him with gratitude.
Among the first of the English who attached themselves to Koenig, in the botanical hue, was Mr.
George Campbell, a yonng medical gentleman on the Madras establishment. They made a short excursion
together into the Pullicate hills, in April, 1766 ;-i- and Mr. Campbell, on ills return, candidly
ackuow°led"ed to a frieud, that he had learned more of practical Botany in one fortnigbt, than in the
whole coune of his former studies. By all accounts, Campbell was a youth of most promising talents.
W i t h a decided intention of prosecuting Botany, be gave a la.-ge commission for books on that subject
from England; but they never reached him: for, being wounded, and taken prisoner, in the unfortunate
defeat of Colonel Ba.ilie's detachment, in September, 1780, be died a short lime after, universally
lamented.
Dr. Roxburgh, who entered into the service at Madras in the spiiug, 1766, had long applied to
Botany, under Dr. Hope, then professor of Botany at the university of Edinburgh; and bringing with
him to India the love of the study, he found in Koenig an experienced conductor thiongb an unknown
wilderness. Their friendship continued to the last; and Dr. Roxburgh takes a pleasure in acknowledging
his obligations to his guide.
On a representation from Dr. Koenig to the Board of Madras, in 1778, that his finances were far
inadequate to the extensive schemes lie had in contemplation, and that his salary from the Nabob was
irregularly paid, the Board, iu consideralion of his merit, was pleased to grant a monthly allowance,
in order to enable him the better to prosecute his researches.
W i t h this aid, he proceeded in the month of August to the Straits of Malacca, and Siam; from
whence he ictiiined towards the end of 1779. From his report to the Board of Madras, it appears,
•• that he had the good fortune to meet wi th several new subjects in natural history, and to make some
" discoveries in Botany and Mineralogy, which he flattered himself might prove acceptable to the
" public; particularly in respect to the article of tin ore." He mentioned at the same time his having
had the honour of letters from the Piesident of the Royal Society, and the Honourable Charles Greville,
requesting specimens of his collection, which it was his intcmion to transmit to them, as the best means
of rendering his discoveries useful in England. He intimated also his intention of sending to St. Helena,
by the .ships then on departure, the seeds of such esculent and other plants, and of .such trees or shrubs
as lie had then got ready, and might probably be of use in that island.
Having now determined to devote his liiture time entirely to the seivice of the India Company, the
Board of Madras was pleased, in 1780, to make an addition to his salary, which met with the approbation
of the Honourable Court of Directors.
• Hi! Ceylon joaraal i. aot among itic p.p™ lioqueathed to Sivjo.eph Banks, 1»
Henninss, in his Je.ciip.ion oFTanjove, and of the D.ni.h eoloay at Tmqu.bai.
+ Theorigini sketch of Mr. Canipbelfi joatnat, is hi the poisei.ion of Dr. Kussell.
ant of it is given by
PREFACE. iii
He soon after, in that year, made a short excursion to Tririkamaly ; and early in the following year
he made a second excursion to Columbo.
In the beginning of June, 1782, Dr. Patrick Russell, on his arrival in IneUa, had the pleasure of
meeting with Dr. Koenig at Tranciiiebar, who not only communicated the catalogue of bis Coromandel
collection of plants, but as an inducement to engage in Indian Botany, favoured him with a number
of specimens. From that time commenced a correspondence, which was continued till within a fortnight
of Dr. Koenig's death.
In 178'1, Koenig fulfilled the promise he had given of a visit to his old friend Mr. Claud Russell,
then chief at Vizagapatam. It was on his way to Bengal ; but as he made some stay at Vizagapatam,
Dr. Russell bad time to submit to his examination a pretty large collection of plants made in that
district, and to profit by his assistance in arranging them.'' He took the opportunity also of urging to
Dr. Koenig, (what he had more than once hinted belbrc in correspondence,) the propriety of transmitting
to the Court of Directors, a select Fasciculus of drawings and descriptions, by way of specimen
of his labours ; at the same time, earnestly recommending his making such a disposition, in respect to
his nianu.script papers, as might, in case of death, insure their falling into the possession of some one
qualified to appreciate their merit, and not less able, than libeially disposed, to employ them in the
manner most conducive to the writer's reputation.
In this last view, Sir Joseph Banks was considered, of all others die person most eligible. Koenig
had been in correspondence with Dr. Solander, from the year 1774 ; and bad fiom time to time transmitted
specimens and seeds of plants for Sir Joseph.
Koenig departed from Vizagapatam, impressed with the justness of what had been suggested to him;
but eager in the pursuit of new objects on the journey, and immersed in vaiious avocations at Calcutta,
he delayed from day to day, wdiat he was conscious it was wrong to procrastinate, and on his return
to Vizagapatam in April, 1785, he bad executed no part of bis former resolutions ; tliougb the declining
state of his health at that time, rendered it more than ever expedient to prepare for an event, which
hé himself appeared to consider as at no great distance.
After a rest of two or three weeks at Vizagapatam, in which time he remarkably recovered his
strength and spirits, he proceeded to Jagrenatporum, with a full resolution of immediately setting about
the proposed selection; but towards the end of May, his distemper (which wa.s a iliix,] returning, he
gradually sunk under it, in spite of the skill and friendly attentions of Dr. Roxburgh, and on the 26th
of j i i n e expired.
On the 61h of that month he had made his will, bequeathing the whole of his manuscripts, and
specimens of plants, to Sir Joseph Banks ; of which be acquainted Dr. llu.ssell in a letter dated the 12th.
Some days before his death, lie him.self saw sucli papers as he was then in possession of, sealed up in
the presence of Dr. Roxburgh, by wdiom they were despatched to Sir Joseph Banks, and arrived salely ;
but those dispersed in difierent places, particulaily at Tranquebar, (among which unfortunately was his
Ceylon Journal,) have hitherto not appeared, though Dr. Roxburgh and Dr. Russell did all in their
power in India to recover them.
Though these manuscripts contained many valuable descriptions and observations, there was nothing
' On Dr. Rnssell's leaving India, the caliinet coiitnining the above coitecdon, considerably augmenled, ^
n to the Company, and deposited at tlie Presidency, with the approbation of [lie Governor in council.