9 
were through an abandoned banana-plantation and its environs, 
and brought us at length to the town of El Valle. This is a 
picturesque place, consisting of one grass-covered street and a 
row of native huts along each side. We were hospitably put up 
for the night by a Dominican. His native courtesy has been 
many times repeated ; and it isa pleasure to report, that wherever 
I have travelled in Santo Domingo a similar feeling of good fel- 
lowship and friendliness has always greeted me 
Fic. 2, Fish dam under construction. Made fram slabs of the royal palm, 
Consuelo, Santo Domingo. 
The next morning at daylight we left El Valle and rode for 
nearly seven hours through one of the most splendid primeval 
forests that could be imagined. Giant trees covered the hills 
and mountains; and the wealth of timber and the vines festooned 
through it shut out all traces of the sun. No collections could 
be made as we were travelling light and only a very few driers 
could be carried. A thorough investigation of this region would 
be very profitable to the botanist, as it certainly would be to the 
timberman. 
