STORY OF PHALAENOPSIS SANDERIANA 85 



across just as the door was opening. None of the chief's 

 household came down that day. But after negotiation some 

 of the men led Roebelin to see the Phalaenopsis. They 

 grew in thousands over a brook close by, clinging to small 

 trees. He counted twenty-two plants, bearing more than a 

 hundred flowers open, upon a single trunk. Very curious 

 is one point noticed. The Phalaenopsis always grows on 

 the northern side of its support, and always turns its flower 

 spike towards the southern side. It is a very bad species 

 to travel. Of the multitude which Roebelin gathered, not 

 more than a hundred reached Europe alive, and every 

 collector since, I believe, has failed utterly. Very few 

 possessed his knowledge and experience. 



That was Phalaenopsis Sanderiana ; rather purple than 

 red, but certainly the flower so long sought. With the 

 superb Aerides — now called A. Roebelini — he was even less 

 successful ; it is only to be seen in a very few collections of 

 the highest class. 



So the legend ends. But there is a funny little sequel. 

 Sam Choon did well with his ' notions.' After Mr. 

 Roebelin's departure, he returned to Davao and opened 

 a promising branch of trade. To secure a permanent foot- 

 ing, he thought it would be judicious to marry a daughter 

 of the chief, and he proposed for the giant beauty whom 

 Roebelin had noticed on landing. The father was astonished 

 and amused, but finally indignant. A Chinaman, however, 

 though thrifty by habit and taste, does not count expense 

 when pleasure or business urge him, and both combined 

 here. The chief wavered, and took counsel of his elders. 

 They also were astonished and indignant ; but Sam Choon 

 found means to persuade them. So the young woman 

 received notice that she was to marry the Chinaman next' 

 day. Her remarks are not chronicled. But there was 

 much excitement among the bachelors and maidens that 



