LIVES OF TRAVELLERS 



and studying in their native habitats the plants belonging to 

 those rugged regions. 



In 1856 Wallis went to Southern Brazil, and in connection 

 with a German house started a horticultural establishment, 

 but owing to the failure of the parent firm the branch ceased 

 to exist, and Wallis was left practically penniless. 



In 1858 he offered his services as a plant-collector to the late 

 M. Linden of Brussels, who accepted them, and Wallis then 

 commenced his remarkable journey across the continent of 

 South America, from the mouth to the source of the Amazon, 

 exploring that great river as well as some of the more 

 important tributaries. 



In 1870 he entered Messrs. Veitchs' service and proceeded 

 to the Philippines to obtain as his principal object plants of 

 various species of Phalaenopsis known to inhabit the Islands. 



Seyfarth, a young German, was sent to Manila to bring 



the collection home. 



The mission proved very expensive, was practically a 

 failure, and Wallis had to be recalled. 



In December 1872 he was sent to New Grenada, a 

 country already known to him, and returned in 1874, with 

 many fine tropical plants, including Anthurium Veitchii, 

 A. Warocqueanum, and several interesting Orchids. 



After his engagement terminated he still continued to collect 

 plants in South America, and commenced his last journey at 

 the end of the summer of 1875, when he left to explore the 

 north and central regions of South America. 



Wallis was next heard of at Panama, dangerously ill 

 with fever, from which he, however, recovered, and again 

 commenced work, but a second attack of the malady, com- 

 bined with dysentery, soon proved fatal. His last letter 

 was dated Cuen^a, March 24th 1878, where, according to 



63 



