154 RUBBER PLANTING ON THE 



where such slight mishaps had occurred, explaining that, until the 

 coming of the dry season, and it was possible to put in ballast, such a 

 condition of affairs had no remedy. 



We reached Santa' Rosa in due time, and as a souvenir of my visit, 

 Mr. Ames gave me a cedrilla nut, a native remedy for all kinds of snake 

 bites, as well as for coast fevers. I have since learned that the mahogany 

 cutters, and other foresters of the tropics, put great faith in it, and 

 rarely venture into the forest without it. 



Leaving the railroad we struck into the new trail already men- 

 tioned, hid our luggage until a mozo could be sent for it, and started 

 to walk to La Buena Ventura. The rain had ceased, the sun was 

 shining brightly, and every bird in the forest was singing a song of 

 rejoicing. Not always in tune, however, for the genuine feathered 

 warbler of the hot country is not at all musical. The chachilatta thinks 

 it sings, but as a matter of fact it simply "chachilatters," and that word 

 just describes the sound. A sort of wild hen is this bird, and one that 

 is in constant hysterics. 



After a walk of about fifteen minutes, we emerged from the forest 

 and ascended to the higher ground where grows the rubber. To our 

 regret we arrived too late to join in a tapir hunt that took place in that 

 very orchard. The tapir is the largest wild animal in the Isthmus, and 

 although quite plentiful, is so shy that it is rarely seen. It is perfectly 

 harmless, and its flesh is esteemed a delicacy by the natives. One of 

 them by some chance wandered into the rubber, and the son of my host 

 fired a charge of shot, knocking him over. He recovered in an instant, 

 and rushed away, taking another charge with him. 



We did not tarry to talk tapir, however, but hastened on, both of us 

 anxious to get our mail. As I had received no letters since leaving the 

 City of Mexico, that longing had a reasonable basis, but when I appreci- 

 ated the difficulty in getting letters through, I did not wonder at the 

 delay, but marvelled that any mail at all reached me. So we hastened 

 on over the rubber covered hills and finally reached the ridge on which 

 stands the house, and on which, too, is grouped the marvellous collection 

 of tropical plants and trees referred to in a previous letter. Many of 

 these, by the way, were obtained through the courtesy of the officials in 

 far distant British botanical stations, notably, Calcutta, Singapore, and 

 stations on the west coast of Africa. Indeed, Mexico owes to these 

 officials and to Mr. .Harvey's enterprise the introduction of the Kickxia 

 Africanus and the Hevea Brasiliensis. 



We reached the plantation house at last, and everyone welcomed 



