492 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
I could not leave Ambato and Riobamba, where 
my goods were deposited, for more than a few 
days together. I obtained, however, indisputable 
evidence that the " Derrotero " or Guide to Llan- 
ganati of Valverde had been sent by the King of 
Spain to the Corregidors of Tacunga and Ambato, 
along with a Cedula Real (Royal Warrant) com- 
manding those functionaries to use every diligence 
in seeking out the treasure of the Incas. That one 
expedition had been headed by the Corregidor of 
Tacunga in person, accompanied by a friar. Padre 
Longo, of considerable literary reputation. The 
Derrotero was found to correspond so exactly with 
the actual localities, that only a person intimately 
acquainted with them could have drawn it up ; and 
that it could have been fabricated by any other 
person who had never been out of Spain was an 
impossibility. This expedition had nearly reached 
the end of the route, when one evening the Padre 
Longo disappeared mysteriously, and no traces of 
him could be discovered, so that whether he had 
fallen into a ravine near which they were encamped, 
or into one of the morasses which abound all over 
that region, is to this day unknown. After searching 
for the Padre in vain for some days, the expedition 
returned without having accomplished its object. 
The Cedula Real and Derrotero were deposited 
in the archives of Tacunga, whence they dis- 
appeared about twenty years ago. So many people 
were admitted to copy them that at last some one, 
not content with a copy, carried off the originals. I 
have secured a copy of the Derrotero, bearing date 
August 14, 1827 ; but I can meet with no one who 
recollects the date of the original documents. 
