jan.— -mar. 1857.] Peruvian Bark-tree. 211 



has finished the preparati on of the bark ; he has yet to carry his 

 spoil to the camp, and, with a heavy load on his shoulders, to re- 

 trace his steps along those parts which, while unburdened, he tra- 

 versed with difficulty. The labour involved in this part of the 

 operations can hardly be conceived. I have seen more than one 

 district where the bark has to be thus carried for fifteen or twenty 

 days* journey to get it out of the wood from which it was obtained; 

 and considering the amount of remuneration received, I could 

 hardly imagine men so unfortunate as to engage in work so labo- 

 rious and ill-paid. * 



" Something yet remains to be said with reference to the packing 

 of the bark. It is the major-domo who performs this duty. As 

 the cutters bring him the bark, the produce of their labour, he sub- 

 mits it to a slight examination, and rejects that which is bad. It 

 is then, if necessary, exposed to a fresh process of desiccation, and 

 formed into bundles of nearly equal weight, which are sewn up in 

 coarse canvas kept for that purpose. In this condition the bundles 

 are conveyed on the backs of men, donkeys, or mules, to the depots in 

 the towns, where they generally receive an exterior envelope, con- 

 sisting of fresh hide, which as it dries makes a hard and compact 

 package. In this form the packages are known by the name of 

 serons, and it is thus that they arrive in Europe. The usual weight 

 of aseronis from 70 to 80 kilogrammes (kilogramme 2 lbs. 3ozs.avoir- 

 dupoise) ; but the weight is sometimes much less than this. From 

 these details it will be seen how erroneous the notions of some per- 

 sons still are with reference to the collection of cinchona bark ; many 

 having thought that it continues under special surveillance as it 

 was formerly represented to be ; and others that the cinchona-trees 

 are cultivated in enclosed parks and treated as the cork-trees of our 

 country. It must be acknowledged that the mode of collecting 

 this valuable product appears to be always under the control of the 

 half savages by whom it is performed; and if some efficient means 



" * In general, before the product reaches the coast it passes through at least 

 three or four hands, and on each occasion its price is augmented; moreover, as 

 carriage is very expensive, it follows that the price charged in Europe will afford 

 no idea of its cost on the borders of the forest. At Pelechuco, for instance, 1 ki- 

 logramme (2 lbs. 3 ozs. avoirdupoise) is only worth a franc and a half (fifteen 

 pence), and for this twenty francs are now paid in Paris. 



