AMAZONIAN VEGETATION 349 



character of the very interesting writer, and also 

 that of Spruce himself, who could excite such 

 enthusiastic affection (though this will surprise none 

 who knew him intimately), I will here give the 

 more interesting portions of it.] 



Senor Santander to Sefior Don Ricardo Spruce 



MY MUCH-THOUGHT-OF AND NEVER - FORGOTTEN 



FRIEND- -The receipt of your much-desired and con- 

 solatory letter has filled me and my family with joy, 

 especially on seeing the portrait that accompanied it. 

 But what a notable difference it presents from that 

 you sent us in 1 864, which showed you much the same 

 as we had known you, whereas this last shows you 

 with a beard as white as the snow of Chimborazo, 

 and a stoutness that (for you) is extreme. \Yhat 

 changes time makes in the features one would 

 think from this portrait you were seventy years 

 old! 



[Then follows an account of his own domestic 

 troubles : the death of his eldest son, the dangerous 

 illness of his wife, and the loss of a fine mastiff, 

 " our old and faithful friend and the guardian of 

 our house ! " He then continues :] 



Notwithstanding these calamities, I did all I 

 could to procure the specimens of Cinnamon for Mr. 

 H anbury, but I have found it impossible. 



In the first place, I availed myself of Padre 

 Fierro, our friend, and in effect he sent the desired 

 specimens by Pacho Gallegos and Jose Torres. 

 But see what happened. The Padre's nephew ran 

 away from Canelos and carried off all his uncle's 

 clothes, some ounces of gold, a gun, etc. II< 



