268 Letters from Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 



izing since I entered the Pilcomayo, for when we came into 

 the river, as you will remember, autumn was well advanced 

 and but few plants were in flower, I will not attempt to give 

 you any account of results so far, as that would be most prema- 

 ture, even if there were time for me to do so. I expect, if 

 we are here for two or three months longer, the botany will 

 present the most points of interest ; next to that, perhaps, the 

 birds. Geographically and geologically, results are nil. 



S.S. "Bolivia," 

 Rio Pilcomayo, 

 Dec. 22nd, 1890. 



We are expecting, within a few days, to have again an 

 opportunity of communicating with the outer world, so I take 

 the opportunity to send you these few lines. 



I have written to you twice since we entered the Pilco- 

 mayo — once in June, and again in October — each giving a 

 summary of our personal experiences up to the date at which 

 it was written. Since the date of the last letter there is 

 but little to chronicle in the way of such experiences. We 

 have remained in one locality during the whole period, there 

 being at present not a drop of water coming down this, the 

 eastern branch of the river. Towards the end of last month, 

 a small and temporary rise in the river gave us, with the 

 help of our dam, sufficient water to float down to our present 

 position, which is merely, however, some 2^ miles in a straight 

 line from our previous position, and in all its biological 

 features is identical with it. We have therefore been in this 

 particular neighbourhood for over six months — the greater 

 part of winter, the whole of spring, and half the summer. 

 Our having to pass the spring-time here was a great dis- 

 appointment to me, as, owing to the floral poverty of the dis- 

 trict, my botanical work was greatly curtailed. We are now 

 patiently awaiting the rising of the river to make our way 

 down stream. Immediately after the close of the expedition 

 I shall return home. 



I have mentioned the comparative barrenness of this dis- 



