INTRODUCTION OF CINCHONA INTO INDIA. 
107 
complete distrust of all native agency; I therefore abandoned my intention of going 
into Bolivia, and it was very fortunate that I did so, for a decree has since been issued 
by Dr. Linares, the President of that Republic, prohibiting all communication between 
Peru and Bolivia, and the passage of either travellers or goods across the frontier,— 
this being, of course, the forerunner of war between the two countries. 
“There is no question that the Calisaya tree, the most valuable species of cinchona, is 
found in greatest abundance in Bolivia ; but though scarcer and more difficult to collect, 
it is also to be met with in the Peruvian province of Caravaya. 1 finally resolved to 
proceed without delay to the cinchona forests of Caravaya to make as large a collection 
as possible myself, without employing any native agent. 
“On the 7th April I left Puno and commenced my journey to Caravaya, travelling 
without a muleteer, and with the cheapest beasts, hired from one village to another, a 
way which entailed much trouble and annoyance, but which I adopted as being far 
more economical. There were four broad and very rapid rivers to cross on balsas , or long 
bundles of reeds stitched together, while the mules swam. The plains and mountain 
ranges over which the way passed, averaged a height of 12,000 to 13.000 feet above ihe 
level of the sea, and one snowy pass attained a height of nearly 17,000 feet. The road 
passed through the towns of Lampa, Pucara, and Azangaro, to Crucero, the capital of the 
province of Caravaya, which 1 reached on the 16th April, a distance of 160 miles from 
Puno. Crucero is a mere collection of mud huts, built on a very elevated swampy plain, 
just on the western side of the snowy Caravaya range, whence roads branch off over the 
passes to the forest-covered valleys on the eastern slopes. 
“ The Peruvian province of Caravaya, in the department of Puno, consists of a snowy 
range of mountains, extending for 180 miles from the department of Cuzco to the fron¬ 
tier of Bolivia, from the eastern slopes of which long spurs run out to the north and east, 
until they gradually subside into the vast forest-covered plains whion extend for thou¬ 
sands of miles to the shores of the Atlantic. These spurs or ridges enclose valleys, the 
sides of which are generally covered with dense forest, while the summits of the ridges 
are clothed with rich pasture-land, interspersed with small thickets in the ravines and 
gullies. These higher regions are called pajonales. The numerous streams and rivers 
which flow down the valleys of Caravaya, and which have long been famous for their 
gold washings, finally unite in the plains to form the Ynambari, a tributary of the still 
unknown Purus, which is probably the largest secondary river in the world. 
“ The most important of the Caravaya valleys, and that which I determined to examine 
first, is that of Sandia, which contains a population of 7000 Indians, and annually yields 
00,000 lbs. of cocoa, and 10,000 lbs. of most excellent coffee. 
“On April 18th I left Crucero, and crossing a lofty snow-covered ridge, commenced 
the descent from an arctic to a tropical climate, down the beautiful ravine of Sandia. 
The pass above Crucero is 13,600, and the village of Sandia 6,667 feet above the sea, 
being a descent of 6,933 feet in 30 miles. Arriving at Sandia on the 20th, I began at 
once to collect provisions and make other necessary preparation for a further advance 
into the interior, intending first to examine the pajonales of the Sandia valley in search 
of the /3 Josephiana variety of the Calisaya plant, which Dr. Weddell had informed me 
was to be met with in these localities, and then to cross a mountain ridge into the 
forests of Tambopata, where the tree Calisaya and other valuable species of Cinchona 
were said to abound.” 
It was in this neighbourhood in the midst of the most enchanting scenery and 
brilliant vegetation, that Mr. Markham first fell in with the cinchona in a state 
of nature. What a delightful moment! Here was Cinchona Calisaya , the 
most valuable species yet discovered, growing by the road-side,—a number of 
young plants,—while older shrubs with their exquisite roseate flowers and rich 
green leaves with crimson veins, appeared lower down the slope. Dr. Weddell, 
it will be remembered, distinguishes two varieties of this species, the one a tall 
tree, which he calls a, vera , the other a shrub, which he names [3. Josephiana. 
These varieties grow in the same region, the (3. variety being chiefly found on 
the high and grassy pajonales. Mr. Markham having attentively examined both 
these plants expresses the decided opinion (in which we entirely concur) that they 
present no characters uf sufficient importance to cause them to be ranked even 
