314 Selections. [no. 2, new series, 



and appearing to sniff the earth, he seems to walk like an animal 

 pursuing its prey, and darts forth when he thinks he has discover- 

 ed the object of his search, nor stops until he has arrived at the 

 foot of the trunk which he had descried from the distance. It is 

 not always, however, that the exertions of the cascarillero are pro- 

 ductive of such favourable results. Too often he returns to the 

 camp empty handed, and without provisions ; and not unfrequent- 

 ly, when he has discovered on the side of a mountain indications 

 of the tree, he finds himself separated from it by a torrent or ra- 

 vine. Entire days may then pass before he can attain the object 

 which, during this period, he allows not to escape from his sight. 



" In order to strip the tree of its bark it is felled with a hatchet, 

 being cut a little above the root, and the bark previously removed 

 from this part, so that nothing may be lost ; and as at the base the 

 bark is thickest, and therefore most profitable, it is customary to 

 remove the earth from around the trunk, so that the barking may 

 be more complete. The tree seldom falls immediately when cu l 

 through, being sustained either by climbing plants or by the adja- 

 cent trees ; these are fresh obstacles to be overcome by the casca- 

 rillero. I remember having once cut the trunk of a large cinchona 

 in the hope of bringing its flowers within reach, and, after having 

 felled three adjacent trees, had the mortification to find it yet 

 standing, being held up by the interlacing creepers. 



" When at length the tree is down, and the useless branches have 

 been cut off, the peridermis is removed by striking it, either with a 

 little wooden mallet, or even with the back of the hatchet ; and 

 the inner bark, being thus exposed, is often further cleaned by 

 means of a brush. The bark is then divided by uniform incisions 

 circumscribing the pieces which are to be removed, and these are 

 separated from the trunk with a common knife or some other in- 

 strument, the point of which is carried as close as possible to 

 the surface of the wood on introducing it into the incisions pre- 

 viously made ; and if the position of the trunk prevents the opera- 

 tor from removing the whole of the bark by the first operation, it 

 is subsequently divided so as to admit of its being turned.- The 

 dimensions and regularity of the pieces necessarily depend more or 



