64 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE HERBARIUM. 
in the end I succeeded. I fixed my quarters at the nearest sites, employed three 
men to cut a way through the forest to the base of the Serra, and to make two 
huts of palm leaves there. I then took five Indians with me. walked six hours 
barefoot through the forest and waded through about twenty streams, slept two 
nights at the Serra, ascended (though with immense difficulty, sometimes 
scrambled up perpendicular walls by root and twiners) to its very summit, 
parrying my aneroid barometer all the way. The height is nearly 1,500 feet 
above the river.” 
This letter may be regarded as evidence of Mr. Spruce’s zeal 
in the pursuit of botany, and shows that he had a kindly remem¬ 
brance of his old friends, “ Moore, Ibbotson, Backhouse," and the 
York Museum. 
During the succeeding years, 1852-56, Mr. Spruce continued 
his investigations along the Rio Negro, Uaupes, Orinoco, surveying 
and constructing maps of rivers which had not been known to 
Europeans. 
In 1857-58 Mr. Spruce visited Ecuador, and explored the banks 
of the Huallaga, Maranon, Pastasa. 
In order to reach Banos, a village at the foot of the volcano 
Tunguragua, Mr. Spruce had to penetrate the primeval forests of 
Canelos. For over three months he explored these immense 
forests, which he declared to be the “ richest locality for crypto¬ 
gams on the face of the globe." 
In 1859 Mr. Spruce received a commission from Mr. Markham, 
on behalf of H.M. Government of India, to visit the Cinchona 
forests of South America, and collect seeds and plants of the best 
quinine yielding species, for the purpose of introducing them into 
India for cultivation. 
The execution of this arduous task is admirably described in 
“Travels in India and Peru," by the chief of the expedition, 
Clements R. Markham, F.S.A., F.R.G.S. 
In his prefatory remarks, pp. VII.-VIII., Air. Markham says: 
“ To Mr. Richard Spruce . . . the largest share of credit, 
so far as the South American portion of the enterprise is 
concerned, undoubtedly belongs. 
“ I have endeavoured to do justice to his untiring energy and 
zeal, and to the important service which he has rendered to 
India." 
On the 22nd July, 1859. Mr. Spruce left Ambato for the purpose 
of ascertaining the best localities in the Ouitensian Andes for the 
Cinchona tree, where it grows at from 3,000ft. to 12,000 ft. above 
the sea. 
