346 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP. 



was in many battles, and during a " revolution " at 

 Guayaquil he was wounded by two musket-balls 

 in the hip and thigh (which still give him periods 

 of torture), was made prisoner, and banished to 

 the coast of Peru without a cent. At Payta he 

 set up a school which gave him a bare living. 

 While a soldier he had taught himself to repair 

 the lock of a gun, and at Payta he began to teach 

 himself all kinds of light work in metals, in which, 

 being an ingenious fellow, he succeeded admirably, 

 so that when some years later new revolutions 

 recalled him to Ecuador, he opened at Ambato a 

 flourishing business what we should call that of 



o 



a whitesmith employing Indian smiths to do the 

 heavier work. He resisted the most urgent solicita- 

 tions of the Government to take a new and higher 

 commission in the army, and resolved to maintain 

 himself by the work of his hands and brain. Add 

 to all this, that he is a man (like yourself) over- 

 flowing with the milk of human kindness, and you 

 will comprehend how I came to regard him with 

 great affection, and regretted much having to part 

 from him. 



Santander's lameness prevents his travelling 

 much, but he knows the Cinnamon gatherers and 

 sometimes trades with them. I will give him full 

 instructions as to what we want. ... If any one 

 can get the Canelo without going to the spot 

 where it grows, which is a good month's journey 

 out and in from Ambato I believe it is Santander. 



[A year later he has a reply from Santander, a 

 translation of which he sends to Mr. Hanbury.] 



