Chap. IV. FOR INDIA. 67 



while the forests are far more inaccessible, and the journey to 

 the coast is longer and more formidable. 



It was the opinion of Sir William Hooker, who gave me 

 the advantage of his valuable advice, that a good practical 

 working gardener should accompany both Mr. Spruce and 

 myself, and he considered this an imperative requirement, in 

 order that they might attend to the packing of the plants in 

 the forests, their establishment in \Yardian cases, and have 

 charge of them during the voyage to India. I appointed Mr. 

 Cross, at his recommendation, to act under the orders of 

 Mr. Spruce ; and Mr. Weir, who was recommended to me 

 by Mr. Veitch, accompanied me to the chinchona forests of 

 Caravaya. 



In employing several agents in districts widely removed 

 from each other, my chief object was to effect the introduc- 

 tion of as many valuable species as jjossible ; but I also 

 reflected on the extreme difficulty of the undertaking, and 

 the overwhelming chances against success which confronted 

 a single-handed attempt. In such wild unfrequented regions 

 all is uncertainty. Along the dizzy paths of the Andes a 

 single false step may dash the fairest hopes, disajjpoint the 

 most careful calculations. Add to these dangers the proba- 

 bility of obstacles raised by the natives, and it will at once 

 be seen that three independent expeditions materially in- 

 creased the chances of ultimate success. 



By the end of 1859 I had completed all the preliminary 

 arrangements ; and there was at length a prospect of securing 

 the successful introduction into India of a plant the ines- 

 timable value of which had been felt, and the importance of 

 its cultivation discussed, for twenty years. On December 

 17th, 1859, we sailed from England, and, crossing the 

 isthmus of Panama, arrived in Lima, the capital of Peru, on 

 January 26th, 1860. Thirty Wardian cases for the plants 

 had been sent out round Cape Horn, and I forwarded fifteen 



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