2o8 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
species that yet remain to be discovered in the 
great Amazonian forest, from the cataracts of the 
Orinoco to the mountains of Matto Grosso ; taking 
the fact that by moving away a degree of latitude 
or longitude I found about half the plants different 
as a basis, and considering what very narrow strips 
have up to this day been actually explored, and 
that often very inadequately, by Humboldt, Martius, 
myself, and others, there should still remain some 
50,000 or even 80,000 species undiscovered. To 
any one but me and yourself this estimation will 
appear most extravagant, for even Martius (if I recol- 
lect rightly) emits an opinion that the forests of 
the Amazon contain but few species. But allowing 
even a greater repetition of species than I have 
ever encountered, there cannot remain less than 
at least half of the above number of species yet to 
be discovered. 
At the highest point I reached on the Uaupes, 
the Jaguarate caxoeira, I spent about a fortnight, 
in the midst of heavy rains, when (according to my 
constant experience) very few forest trees open 
their flowers. But when the time came for my 
return to Panure (for I had to give up the boat 
and Indians by a certain day) the weather cleared 
up, and as we shot down among the rocks which 
there obstruct the course of the river, on a sunny 
morning, I well recollect how the banks of the river 
had become clad with flowers, as it were by some 
sudden magic, and how I said to myself, as I scanned 
the lofty trees with wistful and disappointed eyes, 
There goes a new Dipteryx — there goes a new 
Qualea — there goes a new 'the Lord knows 
what ' ! " until I could no longer bear the sight, and 
