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MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 89 
at Bogota at five o’clock, on May 1, exactly one month from 
the time we left St. Louis. After traveling in the tropics, at 
Bogota one feels the effect of the altitude in the form of 
headaches and increased heart action. The ‘Sabana’ of 
Bogota is extremely picturesque, surrounded by the eastern 
Andes. The population is approximately 140,000. During 
my first week in Bogota I suffered from a slight attack of 
ptomaine poisoning, after which I had many consultations 
with Norman Black, who kindly consented to act as my 
agent, and with Mr. Cyril Allen, who very kindly put me in 
touch with his native collectors who could obtain the varieties 
of orchids wanted in quantity for the Garden. I was advised 
by both Black and Allen not to go with the native collectors 
to gather orchids, inasmuch as I would be exposed to malaria, 
typhoid, ete., combined with the danger of being absolutely 
at the mercy of the natives of that region, especially as my 
knowledge of Spanish was extremely limited. Again, the 
word would undoubtedly be passed in advance that an 
‘Americano’ was coming and prices would be raised in pro- 
portion. 
‘‘In view of the fact that Cyril Allen had collected and 
exported orchids for the past fourteen years, and that Norman 
Black, through his experience with the natives in dealing 
in coffee, knew of their financial trustworthiness, I decided 
that their advice was final. As Mr. Allen was leaving shortly 
for Europe, quick action was necessary. Within two weeks 
I was in touch with a native collector of Cattleya Trianae 
and another to collect Cattleya Schroederae, in two widely 
separated regions. To collect these two varieties in the quan- 
tity desired Mr. Allen stated that he would have demanded 
six months’ time. On the other hand, I was contemplating 
a six weeks’ stay in Bogota. The transactions with the natives 
were accomplished by Allen and Black, it all being carried 
on in the native tongue. I was present at the conference, 
but only as a guest cf Black, and not supposed to be inter- 
ested in the orchid transaction. In other words, Black was 
the agent who wanted the shipment for export. This meant 
that the Garden got the benefit of strictly native prices, 
which it would have been impossible for me to obtain. 
‘‘The next difficulty for me to settle was the question of 
financing the natives, who had to take sufficient money to 
buy the plants from the collectors in the fields. Norman 
