Chap. II. 



THE LOXA REGION. 



25 



the bark, according as it is grown on the sides of moiuitains 

 most exposed to the morning or evening sun ; and its position 

 is believed to have a great influence on the quality of its 

 alkaloids. The usual yield of the large quills is 3-5 to 3-6 per 

 cent.^ 



The bark-collectors of Loxa are said to show some little 

 forethought, a quality which is entirely wanting in most of 

 their fraternity. To save the trees they occasionally cut off 

 the whole of the bark, with the exception of one long strip, 

 which gradually replaces its loss ; and the second cutting is 

 called cascarilla resecada. This practice was in use in the 

 days of the botanist Ruiz, who protested against it, and 

 declared that it was very injurious to the trees, many having 

 been destroyed by it.^ Later accounts, however, show that 

 the bark-collectors of Loxa are as thoughtlessly destructive 

 as those in other parts of South America. They often pull up 

 the roots, while the annual burning of the slopes, and the 

 continual cropping of the young shoots by cattle, assist the 

 work of destruction.^ 



It is, therefore, well that the O. Chahuarguera and (7. 

 JJritusinga, the earliest known and among the most valuable 

 of the chinchona-trees, should have been saved from extinc- 

 tion by timely introduction into India. 



The annual export of Loxa bark, from the port of Payta, 

 is from 800 to 1000 cwts. 



lanceolate leaves and panicles of flowers 

 still retained theii' colour. They were 

 marked " Cascarilla fiiia de Uritusinga 

 de Loxa, Quin. de Pavon." 



1 Howard's Nueva Qmnoloyia de 

 Pavon. 



2 Iloimrd, from MS. of Ruiz. 



^ Mr. Cross's Report, Nov. 18G1. 



