JOHANNES MUNNICKS

TO THE BOTANY-LOVING READER

Ornate decorative initial 'H' featuring botanical scrollwork and floral patterns. Here you have, Friend Reader, the fifth part of the Garden of Malabar original: "Horti Malabarici"; the third edited by our own labor. We once promised the learned world that we would eventually complete the entire history of the plants of Malabar. However, since we are pulled in different directions by many cares—both academic and especially practical—the publication of twin volumes each year can hardly be expected from us. Indeed, hindered by a mountain of occupations, we are scarcely granted the time to finish a single volume. The printers, weary of this slowness—especially since nine volumes remain to be completed—have repeatedly urged us: could this Garden of Malabar, growing so slowly, not be finished more quickly? Since this could not be done without detriment to our public duty (which is our primary concern), we have been forced to let go of this garden. Yet, so that the printers, and especially the Most Noble Lord De Rheede Hendrik van Rheede, the primary visionary behind this massive botanical project, might be satisfied, we sought out some distinguished man, celebrated for the fame of his learning...