176 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
most interesting and novel plants, especially among the mi- 
nute Ferns and other Alpine genera, upon the more elevated 
mountains of the Cordillera of Colombia. 
In Peru, Mr. Mathews has colected upwards of 1200 
species, of which he has sent many sets to England. This most 
deserving Botanist and collector is now devoting his 
whole time to the service of the public, and offering his 
excellent specimens at the very moderate rate of £2 for 
100 species. His head-quarters are at Lima, but he is con- 
tinually making extensive excursions in various directions, 
and especially in the Cordillera. In the beginning of last 
year (1833), he returned from a journey by way of Pasco to 
Huanuco, Tarma, Xuaja and Huancayo; thence he crossed 
eastwardly to a Quebrada called Pariahuanca, which conducts 
to the Apurimac River. On the East side of the Cordillera 
he observed the Calceolariz, which are so common on the 
west side, entirely to disappear, (with the exception of one 
species,) and to be replaced in the temperate regions, by the 
genera Andromeda and Arbutus, and lower down by terres- 
trial and parasitical Orchidee. In Aprilof last year, he visited 
the neighbourhood of Pangoa, east of the town of Jauja» 
where he found the Erythroxylon Coca extensively cultivated. 
Of this plant, ** Coca" of the Indians, according to Joseph 
de Jussieu, a quantity equal in value to 7—800,000 piastres is 
distributed among all the mines of the country. It is the 
leaves that are employed; and the Indians cannot support 
the fatigue of working the mines without continually chew- 
ing the Coca, Mixed with the leaves of the Quinoa, (Cheno- 
podium Quinoa) which is also cultivated in the country. An 
extension of his journey which Mr. Mathews had contemplated, 
was prevented by a revolution at Ayacucho: but 200 species 
rewarded his labour. By his last letter, dated Lima, Aug. 20. 
1833, he was about to set out for the interior of Huanuco, 
about Pillao, where Ruiz and Pavon spent much time, 
and gathered many of their rarest plants. Indeed, Mr. 
Mathews’ collections contain many of the species of those . 
celebrated travellers; and it is to be hoped that he will meet 
