217 
of the trees overhead, they would assuredly have been swept away 
to instant destruction by the roaring flood. Moreover, they were 
in constant danger of being dashed to pieces by the floating trees 
which were borne along by the torrent. It was not until after 
10 o'clock on the following day that they were able to relax their 
efforts and feel themselves secure. Dr. Wallace has furnished a 
short prefatory paragraph to the extracts from Spruce’s journal 
which follow :— 
Notes ON THE VEGETATION MADE DURING THE VOYAGE UP 
THE PastTasa AnD BoMBONASA. 
[Interspersed throughout the Journal of this tedious canoe-vo yage 
are very numerous observations on the general character of the 
vegetation as well as records of species identified as being known 
from other parts of the Amazon valley, or as being, probably or 
certainly, new species. It must be remembered that during this 
long journey -it was quite impossible for Spruce to make any col- 
lections of flowering plants ; but he was so close and accurate an 
observer, and had by this time acquired such an extensive knowledge 
of the Amazonian flora, that I think it my duty to give some 
portion of these notes for the use of such botanists as may not be 
able to consult the original notes and Journals which have been 
presented to the Kew Herbarium. 
Of the first portion of these notes, dealing with the banks of the 
Pastasa river, I shall only give a very small portion to illustrate 
their general nature, as the river was monotonous, and the notes of 
comparatively little interest. But those of the Bombonasa river 
are much more detailed and of a more varied character, both from 
the greater diversity of the river banks and the decided sub-Andean 
character the vegetation began to present. These will be quoted 
at considerable length, and will, I think, be worth the attention not 
only of specialists in the botany of tropical America, but of all who 
take a general interest in the varied phenomena presented by the 
vegetable kingdom in a region where it is developed in exceptional 
luxuriance and grandeur.] 
Vegetation of the Pastasa (from Journal).—At two days up the 
river the vegetation is still Amazonian—much rice in places— 
plenty of Ingas—much Omphalea diandra (Euphorbiaceae) and 
Abilla—abundance of a Dioclea (Leguminosae) with bramble-like 
leaves, 2 <=. alms are fairly abundant—Mauritia, two 
Attaleas, one apparently the A. excelsa. . . - * 
April 16th, Same palms. . . . Jriartea ventricosa, scarce. . . 
Assai abundant. . . . the Couroupita (Lec hidaceae) as at 
Tarapoto. . . . Pourouma (Artocarpaceae), Securidaca (Poly- 
alaceae), a climbing Amaryllidea, &c. 
J A <ifele Myristica gern a common, and another smaller 
species scarce, ‘Twining Bignoniae and Malpighiaceae are common 
—one of the former with purple flowers seems new. i wpe 
trees by the shore has the aspect of a Pilea ; it has yellow tubular 
flowers, while another with flowers and large red bracts is Paasire te 
A Loganiaceous twiner (Uncaria guianensis) is rather frequent. 
B 
13192 
