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



be unknown to the Peruvians and Bolivians less than to Europeans, 

 that the quantity diminishes, and that the trees, which are felled 

 by thousands, are not so speedily succeeded by others that replace 

 them. Whoever descends the Andes, to visit the woods in which 

 the Quinquina grqws, finds his way from the sound of the reckless 

 axe of the Cascarilleros,as they mercilessly, in an unexampled man- 

 ner, hew these beautiful trees. This rough handling is not alone 

 working fatally for the future, but all accounts are unanimous that 

 an incredible quantity of bark is lost in the most reckless manner. 



" These circumstances have the sad consequence which De la 

 Condamine foresaw as probable, and that all late travellers confirm, 

 namely that there is a visible diminution in the quantity of Quin- 

 quina trees. 



" Don Antonio de Ulloa,* thirty years after De la Condamine, ut- 

 tered a warning against the destruction of the Quinquina woods, 

 and proposed that strong prohibitive measures should be taken 

 against their abuse. This, although very late, sixty-six years after, 

 the Government of Bolivia considered, viz. in January, 1838; it 

 issued an order against the exportation of Quinquina wood for five 

 years. 



" Pereiraf makes the remark, that as these trees are produced but 

 in one quarter of the world, and no care is taken of their cultiva- 

 tion, it is nowise to be wondered at that, this bark, in the course of 

 time, should disappear from commerce. 



" Stevenson J declares that if the Government of America do not 

 take care to preserve the Quinquina-tree, either by forbidding the 

 felling of it, or by obliging the authorities of the provinces to take 

 strong measures to prevent the destruction of the tree, it is much 

 to be feared that this excellent production of the New World will 

 be wholly exhausted. 



* Writer of ' Noticias Americanas,' vol. i. 1772, 8vo. See also Hooker's ' Com- 

 panion to the Botanical Magazine,' i. 247. 



f ' The Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics,' by J. Pereira, ed. 3, 

 vol. ii. part 2, pp. 1605 et seq. London, 1853» 



% Narrative of Twenty Years' Residence in South America, ii. 60. 



