Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 57 



Mr. Cuming) was flattering in the extreme ; every facility had been 

 afforded to his researches, and the hospitality of the resident Spa- 

 niards was even greater than what he experienced from the same na- 

 tion in South America. Although Calaguan is deemed the most un- 

 healthy spot in the island, and although Mr. Cuming explored the 

 woods, mountains, marshes and river-banks, frequently exposed to 

 torrents of rain during a whole day, he never suffered an hour from 

 illness, nor experienced a moment's pain, except from the bites of 

 venomous insects. Mr. Cuming's return to England with his col- 

 lections may shortly be expected. f t 



Mr. Gardner, whose intention of visiting the Organ Mountain is 

 noticed at p. 346, vol. ii. of the Companion to the Botanical Maga- 

 zine, writes from his residence of " Fazenda de St. Anna de Paque- 

 quer" in that range, at an elevation of 3100 feet above the level of 

 the sea. He says in his letter, — 



"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your long and highly wel- 

 come letter of the 25th of October, which I had not intended to an- 

 swer at this time, not expecting an opportunity of despatching my 

 reply. I have however just heard that a vessel is to sail direct for 

 Liverpool in about three days ; and a Swiss planter, a very kind 

 friend of mine, whose estate lies about three leagues distant from 

 this Fazenda, having arrived here to-night on his way to the city, 

 and offering to convey anything I may wish to send thither, I sit 

 down to write you a few hurried lines, to inform you that I am in 

 the enjoyment of good health, and busily employed in an excellent 

 botanical field. It will be impossible for me now to dilate on all I 

 have seen and collected upon this mountain range. This informa- 

 tion I trust to be able to give on my return to Rio, which will pro- 

 bably take place in about a month, when it is my intention to ar- 

 range and pack up all my collections, — a process for which both 

 house-room and paper are wanting here. 



" When sailing up the bay to this Fazenda, we passed many little 

 rocky islands, on which I observed a number of Cacti ; and on my 

 return to the city I hope to take a boat, and spend a day or two in 

 surveying them. Should any new species of the Cactus tribe, as I 

 expect, reward my researches, they shall be sent to my generous 

 patron the Duke of Bedford, to whom I regret that there has been 

 no opportunity of forwarding a box of living Palms. 



" There are very few Mosses on these mountains, and not many Li- 

 chens, but an abundant harvest of Ferns, many of which, I have no 

 doubt, you will find to be new. Several of those I have examined 



