STORY OF ONCIDIUM SPLENDIDUM 243 



chances, that Costa Rica was the most Hkely part of Central 

 America. 



After coming to a decision he acted promptly. In 1878 

 Mr. Oversluys, one of our trustiest and most experienced 

 collectors, was despatched to Costa Rica. More than three 

 years he travelled up and down, and treasures new or old he 

 sent in abundance — Epidendron ciliare, Cattleya Bowringiana, 

 Oncidium cheirophorum, are names that occur at the 

 moment. But as for Oncidium splendidum he had not so 

 much as heard of it. Not a peon could be found in the 

 woods to recognise the sketch which Mr. Sander had given 

 him. Oversluys had never seen the plant himself, I 

 think. 



He was driven at length to conclude that if the thing 

 did^ really exist in those parts — poor Oversluys applied a 

 variety of epithets to ' the thing ' now, none expressive of 

 tenderness — it must be on the Atlantic slope or the steaming 

 lowlands beyond. He had felt himself justified in neglecting 

 those districts hitherto because there is no port where a large 

 vessel can lie, and absolutely no trade, save a trifling export 

 of bananas. What could tempt a French captain to the 

 Atlantic shore of Costa Rica ? And the expedition was as 

 uninviting as well could be. There were no towns nor even 

 villages — but it must be borne in mind that I speak of 

 twenty years ago. At that time all the white and coloured 

 population was settled on the tableland, excepting a few 

 individuals or families who yearly wandered downwards to 

 squat along the slope. Upon the other hand there were 

 Indian tribes — Talamancas to the southward, who admitted 

 sonie vague allegiance to the Republic on condition that 

 white men did not enter their territory ; and Guatusos or 

 Pranzos to the northward, utter savages. It was their 

 country, however, to which the wandering folks mentioned 

 betook themselves, and thither Oversluys must go ; for the 



