Ixii MEMOIR. 
us the country traversed that we feel ourselves wandering with the 
great traveller through the dense tangled vegetation—an uninter- 
rupted forest from Para to Peru—and to be looking on the pageant 
of the seasons which defiles before us between sunrise and sunset in 
a land “where it is never either spring, summer, or autumn ; where 
each day is a continuation of all three . . . budding, flowering, and 
leaf-shedding always going on in one species or another.” Perhaps, 
next to Darwin’s renewed encomiums on the book, the highest 
tribute was that paid by the distinguished naturalist, John Gould. 
He had long desired to see the Great King of Waters, and when 
he met Bates after the appearance of the book, his first greet- 
ing was: “Bates, I have read your book: I have seen the 
Amazons!” 
Darwin wrote as follows :— 
‘‘ HARTFIELD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, AZrz/ 30¢h, 1863. 
‘© DEAR BATES, 
‘‘You will have received before this the note which I addressed to 
Leicester after finishing vol. i., and you will have received copies of my little 
review of your paper. By the way, I heard yesterday from Asa Gray that his 
article on same is delayed till next number in Silliman’s Journal. I have now 
finished vol. ii., and my opinion remains the same—that you have written a 
truly admirable work, with capital original remarks, rst raze descriptions, 
and the whole in a style which could not be improved. My family are now 
reading the book and admire it extremely, and as my wife remarks, it has so 
strong an air of truthfulness. I had a letter from a person the other day, un- 
known to you, full of praise of the book. I do hope it may get extensively 
heard of and circulated, but to a certain extent things, I think, always depend 
on chance. I suppose the clicking noise of surprise made by the Indians is 
that which end of tongue applied to palate of mouth and swddenZy withdrawn 
makes ? 
‘‘T have not written since receiving your note of April 20th, in which 
you confide in me and tell me your prospects. I heartily wish they were 
better, and especially more certain; but with your abilities and power of 
writing it will be strange if you cannot add what little you require for your 
‘income. 
‘‘ What a grand ending you give to your book, contrasting civilisation and 
wild life! I quite regret that I have finished it. Every evening it was a real 
treat to me to have my half-hour in the grand Amazonian forest, and picture 
to myself your vivid descriptions. There are heaps of facts of value to me in 
a natural history point of view. Itis a great misfortune that you were pre- 
vented giving the discussion on species, but you will, I hope, be able to give 
your views and facts somewhere else. Once again I congratulate you, and 
believe me, 
‘* Yours very sincerely, 
‘“C, DARWIN.”’ 
