346 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
was in many battles, and during a "revolution" at 
Guayaquil he was wounded by two musket-balls 
in the hip and thigh (which still give him periods 
of torture), was made prisoner, and banished to 
the coast of Peru without a cent. At Payta he 
set up a school which gave him a bare living. 
While a soldier he had taught himself to repair 
the lock of a gun, and at Payta he began to teach 
himself all kinds of light work in metals, in which, 
being an ingenious fellow, he succeeded admirably, 
so that when some years later new revolutions 
recalled him to Ecuador, he opened at Ambato a 
flourishinof business — what we should call that of 
a whitesmith — employing Indian smiths to do the 
heavier work. He resisted the most urgent solicita- 
tions of the Government to take a new and higher 
commission in the army, and resolved to maintain 
himself by the work of his hands and brain. Add 
to all this, that he is a man (like yourself) over- 
flowing with the milk of human kindness, and you 
will comprehend how I came to regard him with 
great affection, and regretted much having to part 
from him. 
Santander's lameness prevents his travelling 
much, but he knows the Cinnamon gatherers and 
sometimes trades with them. I will give him full 
instructions as to what we want. ... If any one 
can get the Canelo — without going to the spot 
where it grows, which is a good month's journey 
out and in from Ambato — I believe it is Santander. 
[A year later he has a reply from Santander, a 
translation of which he sends to Mr. Hanbury.] 
