ORCHIDS. 67 
ple-hearted honesty of these poor Indians is something well-nigh 
incredible. 
“Ata place.called Monkey Hill, where the cemetery of Colon 
is situated, the trees were covered with parasites. There were Epi- 
dendrez in any quantity, but the hollow pseudo-bulbs were so full 
of an obnoxious little black ant, as to render handling them disa- 
greeable work.” .. . 
“The scenery up the Magdalena River is very fine, but rather 
monotonous, as the banks are always low. The shades of green in 
the foliage are very various, relieved now and again by masses of 
scarlet and yellow flowers. The jungle is very dense, and can only 
be traversed by a frequent use of the machete, or hatchet-knife, 
that Indians always carry. Monkeys are not very plentiful through 
the woods. Caymans, or alligators, swarm on every mud-bank all 
the way up the Magdalena.” 
Nature! to me than art more beautiful 
In thy most simple forms, than all that man 
Hath made with all his genius and his power 
Of combination; for he cannot raise 
One structure, pinnacled, or domed, or gemmed, 
By architectural rule, or cunning hand, 
Like to the smallest plant, or leaf, or flower, 
Which, living, hath a tongue that doth discourse 
Most eloquent of Him, the great Creator 
Of all living things. Man’s makings fail 
To tell of aught but this, that he, the framer, 
Sought also to create and failed, because 
No life can he impart, or breath infuse 
To give inertness being. 
