Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 253 



(of Leira) from that of Piauhy, and where there is verdure all the year 

 round. Should these accounts prove correct I will stay there a short 

 time to botanize, if otherwise I shall push on immediately to Oceiras, 

 picking up all I can by the way. The first rains (primeiras aguas) 

 fall in Piauhy in October, and I shall try if possible to reach Oceiras 

 before the end of that^month, and remain there till the rains are over, 

 so as to be ready to start immediately for the westward. Should all 

 proceed according to my wishes, I hope to spend some months in 

 Piauhy, and then proceed to the Rio Tocintins, descending this river 

 to Para. I have met with several persons who have been to Oceiras 

 and beyond it, and especially an old man, who tells me that he has 

 made the journey twenty-eight times. All represent the country as 

 well- watered and fertile, but they add that fevers of a malignant and 

 intermittent character prevail there, which are peculiarly fatal to 

 strangers from other provinces. Such reports will not however pre- 

 vent my undertaking the journey ; my only fear being lest my col- 

 lections should not cover the expense, which threatens to be consi- 

 derable, though my constant endeavour is to spend as little as pos- 

 sible. My four horses have cost about 40/., and it is very proba- 

 ble that when I start for Crato I may require another. My servant, 

 an active and useful fellow, costs about 21. \0s. a month, and it is 

 often needful to have the assistance of another person, who may lend 

 occasional help and act as a guide. While travelling, I always start 

 at day-break, and about 10 o'clock, when the sun begins to get hot, 

 I rest at some place where grass and water can be obtained for the 

 beasts, and remain stationary till about 3, when I set out again, and 

 continue proceeding till 6 or 7. When a house can be seen in the 

 neighbourhood I take advantage of the shelter of its verandah, 

 otherwise my hammock is slung under a tree. Nothing can be 

 simpler than my diet ; a basin of tea and two biscuits for break- 

 fast, dried beef and farinha of mandiocea for dinner, varied some- 

 times by a stew of such parrots or pigeons as I can shoot, and my 

 supper at night is of the same fare as my breakfast. Wine or spirits 

 I never taste, having found by experience that they are rather inju- 

 rious than otherwise when travelling. During the middle of the day, 

 while the horses are resting, I shift and arrange my plants, and ge- 

 nerally walk a little way to add something to my collections. 



The following is a list of a few of those plants which I gathered be- 

 tween Aracaty and this place : — Angelonia procumbens , Martins ; and 

 another large and beautiful species of this genus, which 1 believe to be 

 new ; Patagonula amcricana, in fruit and flower ; a very ^neUerpestes, 

 and a beautiful Evolvulus, growing about a foot high, very much re- 



