PREFACE. 



Tins Book aims at representing to the reader, and 

 especially the lover of orchids, the circumstances under 

 which these plants are found in the north of South 

 America, as well as being a guide to the traveller in 

 Colombia and the West Indies; besides endeavouring 

 to set forth the natural riches of the country and the 

 manners of the various classes of people, from the 

 wild Indian of the forest to the polished and edu- 

 cated senator of the Court. 



It is not a missionary's report, nor a traveller's 

 diary, nor a student's compilation, but a narrative of 

 things seen and experienced by me while travelling 

 with natives through the forest, sharing with them the 

 hospitality of the wayside hut or the forest shelter and 

 the camp-fire, as well as the more agreeable life of 

 hotels and towns. The information contained in this 

 volume has been gathered over a period of four 

 years, during which I have made five journeys to 

 the orchid districts of South America, the time 



