The Traveling Plant: Preparatory Logbook

Pierre Cox

Manypeeplia Upsidownia

Paris, France
Astrophysicist (Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris)

To Mr. Thomas Bridges
Estancia Haberton
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
August 8, 1880

Dear Mister Bridges,

In London, I found a new plant Whose flower was a pure delight; “Manypeeplia Upsidownia” Is the name I gave to this plant.

Every day, before sunrise, the flower starts to sing in a perfect canon along the music of “Frère Jacques”, namely:

Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing! Ding, dong, dong. Ding, dong, dong.

I here send you seeds & a living plant in the hope that they arrive safely & well & that you can grow the “Manypeeplia Updsidownia” successfully in Patagonia. In doing so you do honor to the Science of your Country, Promote in Some Degree the Commerce & aid the Population. It is with uttermost curiosity that I await you report & hear from you if the flower also sings its song in Waghan or any other native language of Tierra del Fuego.

Most sincerely yours,
Edward Lear