INTRODUCTION. . 5 
I made a separate expedition to Escuintla in the Pacific Coast region. After our stay 
at Duejias we retraced our steps to the Capital, and, crossing the Chuacus Range into 
the plain of Salama, we took up our abode at the Hacienda of San Geronimo. Here 
we resided for some weeks, finding several species of birds and insects which we had not 
previously obtained. From San Gerdnimo we went to Coban, and, after spending some 
time collecting in the neighbourhood, we visited Cubilguitz and Choctum in the low 
damp forest of Alta Vera Paz. At Cubilguitz, unfortunately, I contracted a sharp 
attack of fever, which obliged me to remain for some days at Coban to recruit and 
prevented my accompanying Salvin on his long and arduous Journey on foot to Peten. 
When I had recovered sufficiently I returned to San Gerénimo and then went to 
Buenaventura on the upper waters of the Motagua River, there called the Rio Grande, 
where I employed Indians to poison some nine miles of the water in order to make a 
collection of the fish. Before commencing operations I noticed one of the ‘ mozos’ 
lying flat beside the river, wafting some burning material over the surface of the water, 
and, upon questioning him, I elicited that he was propitiating the spirit of the river 
in order that success might attend his efforts and the fish be permitted to die. The 
method adopted for this purpose was to beat the plant (Tephrosia toxicaria, Pers.*, 
B. C.-Am., Bot. i. p. 258) on the rocks until a froth not unlike soap-suds was formed, 
this when mixed with the water caused the fish ‘to sicken and come to the 
surface. At intervals V-shaped wicker guides were placed, so that the fish floated 
down to the point of the V, where they were then collected in baskets, and when not 
otherwise required were used as food by the Indians, who considered them perfectly 
wholesome. Vast numbers were thus obtained, and from them I made a selection and 
preserved a good many specimens in spirit (aguardiente), but was somewhat disappointed 
to find there were but few species represented. On my return to the Capital I journeyed 
to the Alotepeque silver-mines in company with the manager, and thence to Copan, 
Honduras, where, after spending a couple of days in examining the interesting ruins, I 
proceeded vid Zacapa to Yzabal, and there met Salvin on his way back from Belize. 
Here we again parted, I returning to England, while he started for Duefias and the 
interior, passing through the ‘Altos,’ staying at Totonicapam and Quezaltenango, 
and making expeditions to the Costa Grande, Retalhuleu, and the lagoons of the 
Pacific coast at Huamuchal, close to the Mexican frontier. Salvin returned home 
early in 1863. . 
During our outward journey to Guatemala in August 1861 Salvin and I passed 
through the Azorean Archipelago, and I then wished I could stop and explore these 
islands, but onward we went and soon again lost sight of land. I frequently 
throughout the voyage recalled these isolated islands and determined, should 
opportunity occur, that I would explore their fauna and flora at some future date. 
* Order Leguminose. 
