

Mr. Sclwmburgk, since his return ... .hi* , nlry, Ins obligingly favoured me will. '">" following 



intrivrttm** account of I*!-** diMoTCiy of ihi* |iltml : — 



•■ I discovered th« Hun.l.ya violncea for the first lime in October. 1837. .her. on my ascent of 

 die river Esscquibo. The large cataract Cumaka tote, or Silk Cotton fall, obliged us to ....load our 

 corial* and to transport tin- I nggngc overland, in order to moid ibe dangers whicll a ma" of water 

 at once so powerful and rapid, and bounded by ntnncrous rock*, wighl «C» "> our Mccnt - Wnilc 

 .1,, Indi.no were thus OCCnpied, I rambled about one of tbe .mull islands, which the diverging arms 

 of.be river formed in .heirdc.ee,... and the vegetation of which bud that peculiar lively appearance 

 which is so characterise in .be vicinity of cataract*, where a humid cloud, the effect* of the spray. 

 always hover, around them. Blocks of syenite were heaped together, and while their black shining 

 surface contrasted strongly with the whitish foam of the torrent, and the curly wave* beating againl 



rocky harrier*, a* if angry nt the boundary which thoy attempted to set to .he incensed element, 



their dome-shaped summits were adorned with a vegetation at once rich and interesting. Hchconms. 

 Tilhmdsins. Bromclias, Fern*. Potho*. Cyrtopodium*. Epidotdrums, Pcpcromias, all appeared to 

 struggle for the place which so small a surface afforded to them. The lofty mountain* Akay- 

 wannu. Comuti or Taquiari, und Twasinki, recede, and. forming an amphitheatre, afford a highly 

 interesting scene ; no doubt the most picturesque of that part of the river Esscquibo. I «»- attracted 

 by a number of Onridiiim altissimum which covered one of the rocky pile*, and astonished me by their 

 long -tern* and the bright wlour of their flowers, when my attention was more powerfully attracted 

 by a plant, the appearance of which, although different from the pseudo-bulbous tribe, proclaimed 

 nevertheless that ii belonged to that interesting family die orchideous. The specimen* were 

 numerous : and clothed almost with their vivid green the nigged and dark tn.uk- of the gigantic 

 trees, which contributed to tbe majestic scene around me. It was not long before I discovered one 

 of the plants in flower. It was as singular as it WW new to me. The sepals and petals of a rich 

 purple and velvet-like appearance ; the helm... to which form the column bore the nearest rcsem- 

 bloncc. of the same colour ; the labcllum striated with yellow." 



" In the sequel of my expeditions I found it generally in the vicinity of cataracts, where a 

 humid vapour is constantly suspended, and when- the rays of the sun mv scarcely admitted through 

 the thick canopy of foliage. I traced the Huntloyn from the sixth parallel of latitude to the shady 

 mountains of the Acarai chain near the equator : hut in its fullest splendour it appeared at one of 

 [IK small Wand* among the Christmas cataracts in the river Berbice; and there is a melancholy 

 circumstance connected with the plant, which its appearance never falls to reeal to my memory. 

 Their singular beauty ut this spot Induced my friend Mr. Reiss, who accompanied me as volunteer 

 daring the unfortunate expedition up the river Berbice, to draw and paint it on the spot. Ho was 

 yet occupied with this task when the last of our canoes was to descend the dangerous cataract. He 

 arose from hi. occupation, desirous 10 descend with the Indians in the canoe, although against my 

 wish, but he persisted. The canoe approached the fall -it upset— and of thirteen persona who were 

 in it at tbe time, he was the only one who paid tlto rash attempt with his life, lie is now buried 

 opposite that island, the richest vegetable productions of which it was Ins last occupation to imitate 



i>n paper aud in colours. 



" It appears easy of Cultivation, although the Erst plants which I sent to England to Messrs. 

 Loddi^c- appear to have perished. 1 was more for.inm.e with former transports ; und 1 saw lately 

 among the splendid collections of my kind friend. Mr. George Barker nt Springfield, a llunileya in 

 blossom, the flower of which could boldly vie with any in their native country. A humid atmosphere 

 and -hade are the disliiicuishi.ii; features of (heir habitat." 



• IV* lh- lir.1 nmwl tit ii, «.■ Journal >* tl*> lt">nl linvrniihiul SOfWlv, lot. *l. j. IBM. 



