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at Glasgow, and in a letter from 79, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy 

 Square, London, dated November 24, 1834, Cuming remarked : 

 " I shall feel most obliged if you will gain any information in 

 Glasgow or Greenock respecting Manilla and the Philippine 

 Islands, as it respects the climate, state of society amongst the 

 lower classes and the aborigines, or any information of the Civil 

 Government towards strangers, particularly those who might visit 

 this place on -Scientific pursuits. At the same time please to let 

 me know if there have been any collectors of Natural History in 

 those Islands, or Botanists. I am still of a roving mind, and 

 should I gain anything like a satisfactory account of the place 

 I have a great mind to pay it a visit for two or three years/' 



On July 6, 1835, he again wrote, announcing that he had 

 received the permission of the Spanish Court from the Spanish 

 Ambassador, through the influence of the Earl of Derby, to visit the 

 Philippine Islands. He also announced his intention to start 

 early in the New Year, and to collect the most complete Flora that 

 circumstances permitted, including fruits and woods, and at the 

 same time requested hints and instructions as to collecting, and 

 letters of introduction to persons who might have interests in the 

 Straits of Malacca, Singapore, Penang, Canton, Java and Manilla, 

 which places he hoped to visit. Various other letters followed, 

 showing that Dr. Hooker heartily assisted the project. Finally 

 on December 18, 1835, Cuming announced his intention to sail 

 from Liverpool on or about the 15th of January following. 



On December 21, 1836, Cuming announced that he had arrived at 

 Manilla on July 21th, but as the rainy season had just set in he could 

 not make excursions into the country until the end of September. 

 He then left for the Hacienda of Calaguan (Calauan), in the 

 Centre of Luzon (Province of Laguna), where he remained till 

 the 15th of December, making excursions in the neighbourhood, 

 the result being that he had already collected about 1,150 species 

 of all classes, of which about a tenth were ferns. He had also 

 about 60 Orchids (not many in flower) and 125 Fungi. He was 

 then preparing for a journey to the southern islands, Cebu, 

 Negros, Leyte and Mindanao, where he expected to give an 

 equally good account of himself. 



On November 18, 1838, he again wrote, alluding to a letter sent 

 a year previously, to which no reply had been received, so that it 

 probably failed to reach its destination. He now reported as to 

 his further journeys. After leaving Calaguan (Calauan) he went 

 to the islands of Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Siquijor, Cebu, bohol, 

 Camiguin and Mindanao, which occupied ten months, and at the 

 close the plants amounted to 1,900, including many ferns. His 

 last trip was a continuation of the journey to the southern islands, 

 namely, Samar, Leyte, Mashate, Ticao, Burias, Mindoro, and the 

 south-eastern provinces of Luzon, Albay, Camarines, Tayabas and 

 Batangas. His fern collection was now augmented to 400 species, 

 and the plants to 3,000. He had ascended to the very tops of some 

 of the mountains, to 5,000, 6,000 and even 7,000 feet. On the sea 

 coast the plants were the same in all localities, but the dark 

 woods and deep glens were his delight. He was now preparing 

 for a journey to the north part of the island, and he expected to 

 return in July following- In October he would start for Singapore, 



