MISSION OF COLLECTOR TO BRAZIL. . 43 



Jwie ^Qth. — Thi3 morning, although dull, was dry, and 

 towards eight o'clock a few breaks in the clouds gave promise of 

 a fine day, and I started on an excursion to the westward. Sr. 

 Leao could rfOt accompany me himself, but he gave me a man 

 to carry my box and pilot me through the woods. Our search 

 was rewarded by finding No. 18, a herbaceous trailer, with 

 very beautiful foliage of a dark velvety-green, tinged with purple 

 on the upper side, and with silver stripes running along the veins; 

 the iinder side is deep purple. The root is somewhat tuberous. 

 I took all I could find to send home. The plant was not in 

 flower. After removing the tubers, I put the plants in the ground 

 again. We also found an Acanthad with pale white flowers 

 streaked with purple, and with white bracts. Saw some Ouci- 

 diums in bloom on some of the large trees, but at such a height 

 that it was impossible to get at them. 



June fiOth. — Left to day for Brandao, to get the things together 

 I intended to send home. 



Jidy 1st. — Bought a box iot the plants at a Venda near 

 Brandao. Packed them temporarily in the afternoon, and got 

 ready to start with the first waggon that passed going to Belem, 



July Und, — Wet morning ; much rain having fallen during the 

 night. Left Brandao at ten o'clock. Roads up to the axles of 

 the waggons in mud. Thoroughly drenched by the time we 

 reached Macacos, where we halted for the night. Passed the 

 night in a rancho, or open shed, on the road-side. 



July SrtZ. — It has rained more than half the night, but the 

 morning is dry. We were on the road again by eight o'clock, and 

 reached Belem just in time for me to get the afternoon train for 

 the city. 



Jtdy ^th. — Packed the box of plants to-day. Used sawdust 

 for a packing material, having successfully used it before for the 

 purpose.^- Mr, Fry kindly undertook to ship the box this after- 

 noon. 



July lOtJu — Left Rio for Belem in the afternoon. Put up for 

 the night at the hotel, but intend to find more suitable quarters 



to-morrow, if possible. 



Jtdy ilth. — After a great deal of trouble, I have succeeded in 

 hiring a room, and have had my things removed to it. 



Jidy I2th, — Went over a great part of the thickly-wooded hill 

 immediately to the north of the village. The forest is extremely 



occasion 



