15 
Martha, and there are snowy mountains between Ocana and 
Bogota. 
I am glad to hear that the Lace Barks thrive so weU. I shall 
do my best to keep a journal of my travels, and to make notes 
of everything worthy of observation; but this is no easy task, 
where all the arrangements devolve upon one individual; my 
eye has to be upon aU minutiae, and often at night I am too 
weary to sit down to ^vrite. 
1 am not yet quite decided whether to proceed to Bogota, by 
the Valle Dupar, or by the river Magdalena, ascending it to 
Ocaiia. The latter is the most direct course, but I shall of 
course get no plants that way. 
Tidings have just arrived from Bogota of a dreadful visitation 
that has befallen the VaUe of Ambolema, famous for its tobacco. 
An avalanche descended from the snovry range of Tolima, and 
covered four leagues, engulphing a thousand persons, aU its 
population. For many miles down the Magdalena river the 
effect of this catastrophe was seen, in the destruction of the fish 
killed by the sudden rush of cold water. Government has esti¬ 
mated the damage at 60,000 dollars worth of tobacco. 
Santa Martha, April 20th, 1845. 
Since the sailing of the last packet, I have made excursions to 
all accessible points of the mountain range lying behind this 
town, and have collected as many Orcliidece, some very handsome 
species, as fiU a large box. I have also many seeds: one is a 
species of Lisianthus which I had not before seen, an abundant 
flowerer though not very conspicuous; the plant grows to about 
eighteen inches high, and is much branched. There are also 
fine ripe fruits of the Granadilla ; and I see in an old work called 
‘ Floresta de Santa Martha,’ and uTitten by a Spanish military 
officer, about a hundred years ago, that the wood of this tree was 
then exported, being very highly prized for its beauty in orna¬ 
mental furniture. Now, nothing seems knoum of the Granadilla 
timber; and, indeed, the taste for any decorative articles in a 
house is at the lowest ebb. I have not been able to fill the glass 
case with growing plants, as 1 hoped, and have therefore put 
Palm-seeds into the vacant spaces that they may germinate on 
the passage. I shall leave the case under the charge of Mr. Fer¬ 
guson, an English merchant, who is also appointed Vice Consul 
here, during the approaching temporary absence of Mr. Marks, 
who is about to proceed to Bogota, by way of the river. 
I trust to start myself the day after to-morrow, and mean to 
