THE FORESTS OF ALAUSI 243 



it turns white, and in a few minutes red. The 

 more rapidly this change is effected, and the deeper 

 is the ultimate tinge assumed, the more precious 

 is the bark presumed to be. It is rare to find 

 shoots springing from an old root, because the 

 roots themselves are generally stripped of their 

 bark, which, along with the bark from the lower 

 part of the trunk, is known by the name of 

 " Cascarilla costrona " (from " costra," a scab), and 

 is of more value than that from any other part of 

 the tree. 



The Cascarilla roja seems to grow best on stony 

 declivities, where there is, however, a good depth 

 of humus, and at an altitude of from 3000 to 5000 

 feet above the sea. The temperature is very much 

 that of a summer day in London, though towards 

 evening each day cold mists blow down the valley 

 from Azuay ; and for five months in the year from 

 January to May there is almost unceasing rain. 



If the Cascarilla roja has been almost extirpated 

 at Puma-cocha, there is still left abundance of 

 Salsaparilla, and of a very productive kind, for 

 Bermeo assured me he had once taken 75 Ibs. 

 weight of the roots from a single plant ; whereas in 

 Brazil the greatest yield I have heard quoted was 

 a little over 30 Ibs. The Puma-cocha species has 

 a round stem and few prickles, while that most 

 esteemed on the Rio Negro has a triangular stem 

 thickly beset with prickles. 



Let me now say a word about the other plants 

 accompanying the Cascarilla, and first of the Ivory 

 palm, which is known throughout the Ecuador by 

 the name of Cadi. ... It has a stout erect 

 trunk of i 5 or 20 feet ; the fronds are 30 feet long. 



