60 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 



he is personally unacquainted, he understands to be peculiarly rich 

 in plants. 



" I am carrying letters to several of the merchants in Pernambuco, 

 one of whom happens to be a fellow-passenger with us from Bahia. 

 This gentleman informs me that he possesses a country house not 

 far from a large fresh-water lake, eight miles inland from the city, 

 where he has kindly invited me to spend some time. Another of 

 the passengers from Rio is a young Spaniard, who has a large Es- 

 tancia or farm in the republic of Monte Video, situated about 160 

 leagues up the Uraguay river. He was educated in England, and 

 is now on his way to visit his father who lives in London. From 

 this individual, with whom I have formed some intimacy, I have re- 

 ceived a most hospitable invitation to make use of his house for as 

 long a time as I may remain in that quarter. It is situated only 

 three days journey from the Missiones, where Bonpland resides; and 

 abundance of the Mate ox Tea plant of Paraguay, {Ilex Paraguay en- 

 sis) is cultivated there. As this gentleman intends to return in less 

 than twelve months, I shall not prolong my stay in the north beyond 

 that period. By this arrangement I hope to reach Buenos Ayres 

 about the beginning of what is the summer season there. I antici- 

 pate that this gentleman's kindness will be of the utmost service to 

 me, as he is acquainted, not only with all the Spaniards who possess 

 large farms in that country, but with the greater part of the English 

 also ; and in case of his not having returned so soon as my arrival 

 shall take place, he has given me letters to the manager of his estate, 

 who, like himself, is an Anglo- Spaniard, and to some of his relations 

 in Buenos Ayres. He informs me that, however dangerous travel- 

 ling may be in the country between Buenos Ayres and Mendoza, 

 Cordova and Tucuman, it is perfectly safe to do so in the Banda 

 Oriental and Entre Rios. 



"While at Bahia, I saw in one of the numbers of Silliman's North 

 American Journal a drawing and description of the new plant-press * 

 which you propose to me. It is certainly constructed on a much 

 superior plan to any of those now used, and for an individual who is 

 stationary, excels all others ; but I incline to think that, for the pur- 

 pose of travelling, no mode of drying plants is so ready and commo- 



* Of the usefulness of this newly-invented plant-press I can speak with 

 confidence, after nearly twelve months' experience in the use of it. It was 

 presented to me by its inventor, Dr. Locke of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, 

 a gentleman who has lately visited England, and who is distinguished for 

 his extensive mechanical knowledge. A figure and description will be 

 offered in a future number of our Journal. — W. J. H. 



