14 
tree is dwarfish, not a yard high, and produces its nuts at the 
bottom; while others assure me that it is a lofty Palm, and that 
the fruits are procured from the summit. Of course, I am the 
more desirous to see the tree myself. A few days since, thirty 
tons of the nuts arrived from the Magdalena, commissioned for 
America and Germany: 1 applied for and received some, and 
found, on cutting open two or three, that they were quite fresh, 
and the germ in a state of perfect vitality. Accordingly I planted 
some fifty, and I hope they may succeed. 
You speak of my collecting sea-w^eeds, but I have only visited 
the coast in two places, near Rio de la Hacha, which is low and 
sandy, and affords none. I hope to be more successful at Santa 
Martha. It will be necessary for me to return thither, that I 
may plant the nuts or growing specimens of Fhytelephas, which 
I expect to procure up the Magdalena River. In the absence of 
instructions from you, I shall probably visit Antioquia, said to be 
famous for its rich mountain vegetation. 
Santa Martha, March 23rd, 1845. 
At the time when I wrote last, rather more than a month ago, 
I was very weak, from an attack of fever and ague. During my 
tardy recovery, I have been engaged in packing my dried speci¬ 
mens, which I forward in two boxes, by the same packet as 
carries this letter. Owing to the carelessness of the persons who 
brought my luggage from Rio de la Hacha, some of the bundles 
were immersed in salt water, to the injury of the specimens and 
destruction of the seeds. 
To-morrow I start for Mancha and other places in the vicinity, 
where I hope to procure plants to fill one glass case, reserving 
the other for the Ivory-Nut Palms. My present intended route 
is by w^ay of Ocana, and thence to cross the mountains to Bogota, 
a beautiM and fertile district, according to the reports I hear, 
and which has never been hitherto travelled by any botanist. I 
have no doubt that I shall find many interesting plants at Bogota: 
have the kindness to address me, care of the British jMinister. 
There are some good Ferns among the plants now sent, but 
this tribe is less numerous here than in the West India Islands. 
Among the dried specimens I have lost, were fine ones of Lafo- 
ensia punicifolia : tw^o or three still remain, and some good 
Orchidecs. I sent growing plants of a very fine Stanhopea, 
from the Sierra de Maracaybo, which is part of the same chain 
of the Andes which I shall meet with again at Ocana. The 
vegetation is said to be far richer around Bogota than at Santa 
