CINCHONA BANK. 



147 



ridge in the province of Yuracares. This bark was first gathered in 

 quantities in 1849, though known for many years. The best quality is 

 not quite equal to that of Yungas, but only second to it. There are 

 four other classes of inferior bark, for some of which the bank pays fif- 

 teen dollars per quintal. The best, by law, is worth fifty-four dollars. 

 The freight to Arica is seventeen dollars the mule load of three quintals. 

 Six thousand quintals of bark have already been gathered from Yura- 

 cares. The bank was established in the year 1851. Mr. Haenke men- 

 tioned the existence of cinchona bark on his visit to Yuracares in 1*796, 

 but it was never closely examined until 1850, when it was found to be 

 of such good quality that the people of Cochabamba endeavored to get 

 a bank established upon an improved plan. This was not agreeable to 

 » those at La Paz, and when the Yuracares bark was sent to that bank to 

 have its value determined, it was pronounced bad. The judges of Tacna, 

 Lima, and Valparaiso gave a different opinion. A shrewd business man 

 of Cochabamba requested his agent in La Paz to forward a quintal of 

 Yungas bark that had already passed inspection as good bark through 

 their bank. It was then made up in the Cochabamba fashion, and bear- 

 ing a Yuracares mark, was sent back to. the La Paz bank. In regular 

 course it was pronounced bad. The case was then laid before the gov- 

 ernment; a new company was formed, and a bank was established here, 

 but without the proposed improvements. 



The eighth article of the last constitution declares, "All men may 

 enter the territory of Bolivia, live in it, and are at liberty to take away 

 with them their property, paying duties to the treasury, according to 

 laws of police and the custom-house." 



The forests are open to all who choose to enter them ; the business is 

 more valuable than mining. Men sometimes remain after the rainy 

 season has commenced. We have dreadful accounts of the loss of life 

 among the woodsmen this month (December) by the sickness brought 

 on by exposure to the climate. Many poor families are without hus- 

 bands and fathers. They have died in the woods, while seeking fortunes. 



The Indians comparatively pay little attention to the business. They 

 make use of cinchona, as well as of ®ther barks, but seldom trade with 

 it. There is a bark from the province of Matto Grosso, in Brazil, which 

 the Indians prefer in cases of fever and ague. It is from a large tree 

 with very small leaves, violet blossoms, and the bark very hard. They 

 boil it in water till the decoction becomes deep red, and then drink it. 

 It is said by them to be a certain cure, although this bark is not yet 

 known in the trade. The bank is obliged to keep watchmen along the 

 roads to the entrances of the forests during the time the government 



