XXIII AMAZONIAN VEGETATION 347 
Translation of Santander's Letter 
To Ricardo Spruce 
Ambato, y^;^,? 30, 1867. 
[The letter begins : My never forgotten 
friend," and after two pages giving a full descrip- 
tion of the box of specimens (also asked for) he 
has sent to Mr. Hanbury, and his prospects of 
getting the much - desired Canelo, he continues 
thus :] 
I now pass on to my own affairs and those of 
my family. I wrote to Inez (his eldest daughter) 
with your salutations, and she replies saluting' you 
most affectionately. She says that her first little 
boy already bears the name of Juan Elias, and 
that she reserves the name of Ricardo for her 
second. Her husband and her father-in-law (Don 
Rafael Paz y Mifio), who both know you, salute 
you with many caresses. . . . As respects my 
family, we are all here at your orders, truly desiring 
to see you and embrace you, for even yet tears 
accompany the memory of our absent friend. 
Isabelito and Pachito (his younger children) are in 
despair to see you and embrace you, and say : 
" Oh that London was no farther off than Ambato 
to Lligna, that we might go to Senor Ricardo ! " 
But as an immense distance separates us, there is 
no alternative but to console ourselves with your 
letters. Isabel (his wife) is ready to complain that 
she ever knew you, because she could not then 
have felt your loss ; but consoles herself with the 
hope that one day you will return to Ambato, stout, 
healthy, and rich. This is what we all desire, and 
