Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 253 



(of Lcira) from that of Piauhy, and where there is verdure all the year 

 round. Should these accounts prove correct I will stay there a short 

 time to botanize, if otherwise I shall push on immediately to Oceiras, 

 picking up all I can by the way. The first rains (primeiras aguas) 

 fall in Piauhy in October, and I shall try if possible to reach Oceiras 

 before the end of that'month, and remain there till the rains are over, 

 so as to be ready to start immediately for the westward. Should all 

 proceed according to my wishes, I hope to spend some months in 

 Piauhy, and then proceed to the Rio Tocintins, descending this river 

 to Para. I have met with several persons who have been to Oceiras 

 and beyond it, and especially an old man, who tells me that he has 

 made the journey twenty-eight times. All represent the country as 

 well-watered and fertile, but they add that fevers of a malignant and 

 intermittent character prevail there, which are peculiarly fatal to 

 strangers from other provinces. Such reports will not however pre- 

 vent my undertaking the journey ; my only fear being lest my col- 

 lections should not cover the expense, which threatens to be consi- 

 derable, though my constant endeavour is to spend as little as pos- 

 sible. My four horses have cost about 40/., and it is very proba- 

 ble that when I start for Crato 1 may require another. My servant, 

 an active and useful fellow, costs about 21. 10s. a month, and it is 

 often needful to have the assistance of another person, who may lend 

 occasional help and act as a guide. While travelling. I always start 

 at day-break, and about 10 o'clock, when the sun begins to get hot, 

 I rest at some place where grass and water can be obtained for the 

 beasts, and remain stationary till about 3, when I set out again, and 

 continue proceeding till 6 or 7. When a house can be seen in the 

 neighbourhood I take advantage of the shelter of its verandah, 

 otherwise my hammock is slung under a tree. Nothing can be 

 simpler than my diet ; a basin of tea and two biscuits for break- 

 fast, dried beef and farinha of mandiocea for dinner, varied some- 

 times by a stew of such parrots or pigeons as I can shoot, and my 

 supper at night is of the same fare as my breakfast. Wine or spirits 

 I never taste, having found by experience that they are rather inju- 

 rious than otherwise when travelling. During the middle of the day, 

 while the horses are resting, I shift and arrange my plants, and ge- 

 nerally walk a little way to add something to my collections. 



The following is a list of a few of those plants w^hich I gathered be- 

 tween Aracaty and this place : — Angelonia procumbens , Mariius ; and 

 another large and beautiful species of this genus, which I believe to be 

 new ; Patagonula americana, in fruit and flower ; a very fine Herpestes, 

 and a beautiful Evolvulus, growing about a foot high, very much re- 



