6o 
Botanical Reminiscences. 
Alexander Humboldt, that the discovery of the bark as a 
medicine belongs to the Europeans, and not to the natives of 
South America. Just as unacquainted as the great traveller 
found the Indians with the qualities of the bark did my 
brother in his first travels, and even now we found this the 
case with the Arekunas, who lived in the Cinchona region. 
We gave the Indians, when we found them suffering from 
fever, quinine, and gained lasting gratitude for it ; while a 
few steps from their sick bed the source of the remedy was 
growing in luxuriant abundance. 
At our return to Barapang, we found several Indians from 
the neighboring settlement, who, in consequence of the war, 
could bring only a few bananas, of which roasted, our meal 
consisted that day. The stoical submission to fate was 
rewarded in the afternoon, when new visitors not only 
brought some cassava bread, but also two fowls. The former 
we parted amongst our starved followers, whilst the latter 
we claimed. 
The next morning several Indians from Barapang followed 
us, although they knew very well that we would find no 
provisions in Eoraima. Curiosity to travel with the white 
people was stronger than their consciousness of that fact. 
Our road was towards the north-east, and after an hours 
march, we reached the Biver Rue ; after crossing which, we 
went along Its bank lined with a rich vegetation, one tree 
especially attracting our attention, iPeridium ferrugineum, 
Schott., by its peculiar flower spathes. 
Along our road we met, now and then, some small isolated 
shrubs of Byrsonima and Melastoma, 
Some settlements ive saw in the distance, which, according to 
our guides, were left by their inhabitants. They had been built 
near the dense vegetation of the banks of the River Kukenam, 
and formed a picturesque interruption to the lonely but lovely . 
scenery of the valley before us. Where the river came close 
to the base of the mountain the trees along the banks 
disappeared, and dense masses of bamboos, other arborescent 
grasses, and Zingiber aceae took their places. ,We now had 
reached the highest point of the mountains, and before us ex~ 
tended the remarkable Roraima, with its wall-like dark rocks. 
Following the path downwards we saw in the plain a large 
hut, before which we observed a number of Indians 
assembled, who must have observed us, as we concluded 
from the restless motions displayed by them. To abate the 
fright caused by our sudden appearance, and to prevent their 
