Chap. IV. CHINCHONA-l'LANTS INTO INDIA. 65 



culture." It was thus necessary to employ competent persons 

 to collect in New Granada, Ecuador, the Huanuco forests of 

 Northern Peru, and Caravaya or Bolivia at the same time. I 

 considered that it was essential that the proceedings should 

 be completed during the first year if possible, in order to 

 give as short a time as was practicable for the awakening of 

 that narrow-minded jealousy in the people of the South 

 ximerican Kepublics, which I was well aware would sooner or 

 later be aroused. It was also my duty to get the work done 

 economically, and there could be no doubt that the employ- 

 ment of several agents for a few months would cost less than 

 the mission of a single traveller, who would have to make his 

 way over thousands of miles, for three or four years. Time 

 also was an object with regard to the estabKshment of plan- 

 tations in India. 



The Secretary of State for India sanctioned aU the details 

 of my plan, with the exception of the expedition to New 

 Granada,^ and the provision of a steamer to convey the plants 

 direct across the Pacific to India. But it was no easy matter 

 to find agents possessed of the necessary qualifications for the 

 work. A personal acquaintance with the chinchona forests, a 

 knowledge of the country, of the people, and of the languages, 

 were essential, as well as of the particular species of chin- 

 chona-trees growing in each region ; and, as the service was 

 to be performed without delay, no time could be spared for 

 acquiring any of these qualifications. 



For the chinchona forests in Ecuador I was so fortunate as 

 to secure the services of Mr. Spruce, an excellent botanist 

 and most intrepid explorer, Avho had been engaged for several 

 years in the examination of the wdlds of South America, and 



3 Nevortlioless we uow have plants j been received from Java, in exchange 

 of 0. lancifoliu, tlie species which . for other species, and were origmally 

 should iiave been procured from New raised from seetls sent by Dr. Karsten. 

 Granada, tliriving in India. They have - 



