260 PROSPECT OF FAMINE. Chap. XV. 



young C. Callsaya plants, most of them root-slioots, and 

 a few seedlings. There were also two young trees bearing 

 capsules. The C. Calisaya plants were all growing out of the 

 moss which covered the rock to a thickness of eight inches or 

 a foot, together with beautiful Hymenophylla,^ but there was 

 scarcely any soil. The roots spread along the face of the 

 rock, which is a metaraorphic clay slate, unfossiliferous, 

 slightly micaceous, and ferruginous ;* and is easily broken up 

 into thin layers by the gi'owth of the plants. In this situa- 

 tion the C. Calisayas were more numerous than in any other 

 we have yet seen. 



Two bears had made themselves a comfortable and very 

 carefully prepared bed on the summit of the ridge, whence 

 there was an extensive bird's-eye view of the windings of the 

 river, and of the forest-covered mountains beyond. On the op- 

 posite mountains there were two or three long bare places — 

 tremendous landslips, not unfrequent occurrences in the forest. 

 There is a sudden crash, when masses of rock, huge trees, and 

 underwood come rushing down in one fell irresistible swoop. 

 A beautiful white Stephanotis was climbing over the rocks. 

 We returned to the camp in a heavy fall of rain, after a very 

 severe but successful day's work, and found that both the 

 Indians and ourselves had come to the end of our provisions, 

 and that Andres Vilca Lad not returned. 



On May 7th we rose to find only a few bread-crumbs in the 

 corner of our bag, and, as famine was thus knocking at the 

 door, it became necessary to beat a hasty retreat. The plants 

 were carefully packed in layers of moss, and sown up in two 

 bundles of Russia matting, which we had brouglit with us, 

 containing about 200 chinchona-plants. In the absence of 



3 There we also found the Tricho- j be a native of Peru. 

 manes muscoides, a pretty little fern •* Specimens from this locality were 

 which, I am informed by Mr. J. Smith, , examined and reported upon at 28, 

 of Kew, tliough common in the West Jermyn-street. 

 Indies, was not previoasly kno\vn to 



