4 
after leaving Santa Martha. I could go by Maracaybo to Bogota, 
through the plains of ]\Iaraceto, and obtain the Palm which pro¬ 
duces the Vegetable Ivor}^, which I am informed grows there. 
It strikes me this would be the most eligible course to pursue; 
and then proceed down the Magdalena to Chagres, thus avoiding 
the navigation up the river (the Magdalena) which is very long 
and tedious, occupying as much time as it would take to reach 
Bogota by way of Maracaybo. 
Pueblo Nuevo, Valle de Ilpari, 
July 25th. 
Two days ago I returned from La Nivada, bringing a collection 
of plants, seeds and specimens. The Post from Santa Martha 
has just put me in possession of your esteemed letter of April 
16th; and though I have only two hours in which to answer it, 
I send a few lines, and can do no more this time, being engaged 
in preparing a box of seeds, which I shall send by the same con¬ 
veyance, to meet the August Packet. 
I am glad to hear that the articles I despatched formerly have 
reached England in good order. The Orchideous plant, marked 
Brouffhtonia, is very handsome. The present parcel of seeds 
will probably arrive about Oct.; not sooner, because the packet 
go^s to Cai-tagena and Chagres and returns to the former place, 
before crossing to meet the Jamaica Packet. I must convey the 
seeds and specimens to La Fundacion, one hundred miles 
distant, whenee they will go to Santa Martha, one hundred and 
ten miles more; I shall send them by a canoe, and it is very 
probable I may arrive myself at Santa Martha, about the same 
period; for I shall proceed by way of Rio de la Hacha. After 
conveying these things to La Fundacion, I return hither and 
ascend the mountains at all the accessible points, viz., the 
Indian \illage of Artankes, Rosario and Maracassa. From the 
latter, I trust it will be found practicable to reach the Nivada; 
if not, I shall attempt it from the side of Rio de la Hacha, after 
despatching my collection to Santa Martha. I find M. Funck 
has preceded me in this direetion, having attempted to climb 
the Nivada from the village of St. Sebastian, but failed in conse¬ 
quence of the excessive cold. I certainly never felt such a piercing 
air. I, however, reached the snow line and gathered a few plants 
peculiar to that region. The only combustible article that could 
be procured to make a fire withal, is a singular composite 
plant, which was too wet to bum readily. No shelter was there, 
bu,t rocks. The suffering which the Indians seemed to endure 
