224 COLLECTION OF PLANTS OPPOSED. Chap. XITL 



Sandia tliey were drawing up a report on the state of the roads, 

 with an estimate of the sum required for their thorough 

 repair and bridging. I was happy to be able to assist the 

 Sandia Municipality, by preparing a map for them, to iUus- 

 trate their report. The Juntas Municipales of Sandia and 

 Quiaca also, especially the latter, took measures to prevent 

 me from procuring a supply of chinchona-plants or seeds, 

 influenced by motives which exposed their ignorance of 

 political economy, while it displayed their activity and 

 patriotic zeal. 



In Sandia the municipal body consists of the Alcalde Muni- 

 cipal, who presides, the Teniente Alcalde, the Syndic, two 

 Judges of the Peace, three Eegidores, one of whom is Don 

 Manuel Mena, and a Secretary. 



My original plan had been to examine the chinchona forests 

 during this month, make as many meteorological and other 

 observations as was possible, and perhaps send down a small 

 collection of plants to the coast ; but to make the principal 

 collection of plants and seeds in August, the month when the 

 seeds of O. Calisaya are ripe. I had not, however, been two 

 days in Sandia before I discovered that Martel had already 

 written to several of the inhabitants, urgmg them to prevent 

 me from taking chinchona plants or seeds out of the country, 

 and to bring the matter before the Junta Municipal of the 

 district. I heard also that he was busying himself in the 

 same way in other villages bordering on the chinchona forests. 

 My mission was becoming the talk of the whole country ; and 

 I at once saw that my only chance of success was to commence 

 the work of collecting plants without a moment's delay, and, 

 if possible, anticipate any measures which might be taken to 

 thwart my designs. 



It was at Sandia that it became necessary to make final 

 preparations for a journey into tlie forests, for beyond this 

 point the possibility of procuring suppHes of any kind is 



