Chap. XIX. THK " GKEY BAKKS." 32:^ 



G. purpurea is very abimdaiit ; the C. nitida is commoa on 

 the north-east side, and on the upper part of the mouutaius ; 

 the C. ohovata is more rare ; and the C. micrantha and C. 

 Peruviana are both inhabitants of the lower slopes. After 

 crossing the Carpis range, Mr. Pritchett followed the com-se 

 of the river of Casapi to the village of Chmchao, and went 

 thence to the coca estate of Casapi, at the eastern end of 

 the valley, where it joins that of the river Huallaga, and here 

 he was joined by his guide. 



About three leagues from Casapi, and close to the Huallaga, 

 is the mountain called San Cristoval de Cocheros (Cuchero of 

 Pavon and Poeppig), which rises from the low land at the 

 jimetion of the two rivers to a height of about 1200 feet 

 above them, and is the centre of the bark district of Huauuco. 

 On the northern side Mr. Pritchett found abundance of C. 

 micrantha, and some trees of C. Peruviana ; but the latter 

 species was much more rare. They both grow to a very 

 large size, some of them being thu'ty inches in diameter and 

 seventy feet in height. The trees of C. nitida Mere at a 

 higher elevation. 



During June and July, though it was the dry season, heavy 

 rains continued to fall from day to day ; but towards the end 

 of July the weather broke up, and the sun began to make an 

 impression on the solid banks of cloud wliich filled the valleys, 

 and then it was that, during some portion of the day, the sun 

 penetrated to the very underwood of the forest. In the first 

 liaK of August there was fine weather, with only an occasional 

 shower. The seeds on the chinchona-trees ripened rapidly in 

 the sunshine, and Mr. Pritchett collected them by felling the 

 trees — a labour which was performed by Indians, whom he 

 hired from the coca estate of Casapi. Seven large trees were 

 cut down daily, and denuded of their capsules, for a fortnight ; 

 the drying process being carried on at the estate, where every 

 moment of sunshine was taken advantage of. On the 13th 



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