547 
This figure we have not. fcrupled to copy from that given by 
Monf. cle la Condamine, a whofe defcription of this tree, though 
■ "fried more than fifty years ago, being the remit of a careful 
examination of the living tree in its native foil., is ftili the only 
which we can with confidence rely 
of 
It is a native of Peru, growing moft abundantly on a long 
g to the north and fouth of Loxa„ where its 
nk frequently exceeds in bulk the body of a man. According 
Mr. Arrot, the foil in which thefe trees thrive bed, is 
y 
red clayey or rocky ground, and efpecially on the banks of fmall 
rivers defending from the hi<rh mountains. 15 This author alfo 
£, ^*^*^ W^*^ "*£, 
forms us, that the propereft feafon for cutting off the bark is f 
e 
ptember to November, and the manner of conducting this we 
have related in Mr. Arrot's own words.* On the trees being en- 
tirely ftripped of their bark they foon perifh ; and as the number of 
thefe trees to which accefs could be had, was faid to be not very 
considerable, it has been fuppofed that a fufficient quantity of bark 
a L. c. b Phil. Tranf* vol. 4-Oyp. &$. 
■ * {C The orooereft feafon for cutting: the bark is from September to November.. 
the only time in the whole year of fom 
Having difcovered a fpot where the tr 
abound, they fir ft 
" workmen,, and then a large hut wherein to put the bark in order to prelerve it from 
« the wet ; but they let it lie there as ftiort a time as poflible, having beforehand cut 
road from the 
" or four league 
where 
ieaieft 
permits them, they carry the bark 
Th 
« made, they provide each Indian, (they being the cutters) with a large knife, and a 
« bag that will hold about fifty pounds of green bark: every two Indians take one tree, 
« 
down the bark, as far as they can reach 
" they then take fticks about half a yard long each, which. they tie to the tree with 
« tough withs at proper diftances, like the fteps of a ladder, always dicing oft the bark 
« a: 
before they fix a new ftep, and th 
ey do by turns, and 
<c Indian below gathering what the other cuts : this tt J , . - „ , , 
« to tree until the bag is full, which, when they have plenty of trees, is generally a day s 
tc 
Indian- As much care as poffible muft 
directly d 
cc 
t.c 
wet j mould it fo happen, it is to be carnec 
for otherwife it lofes its colour, turns black, . -i-- thf% 
fame rifk : fo that while the Indians are cutting, tne 
and rots ; and if it lie any time in the hut 
being fpread, it runs the lame rilic : to mat wnuc uic iiui«.» «,* — ->»&, ~~ 
theweather permits ought to be carrying it down to the place appointed for 
« drying it, which is done by fpreading it in the open air, and frequently turning 
No. Ai, 
E 
A 
l.c 
to 
