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NATUKAL HISTORY OF THE CINCHONAS. 
of the interior. It was toward these that he directed his 
course, passing through the snows of Illampo. The Rio 
Tipoani, the Rectola of Bolivia, takes its origin here. One 
of the most dangerous roads conceivable is that along the 
ravine bearing the above name, and leading to the village 
of Tipoani, a pestilential place, which nothing but the love 
of gain could render habitable. The cinchonas*met with in 
all parts of this region are as much sought after as gold 
itself, but the larger trees are already beginning to disappear. 
In order to study the yet undetermined points, M. Weddell 
embarked on a raft constructed for the purpose, on which 
he descended in safety the rapids of Rio Tipoani. 
He then visited the mountains of Rio Tutnache. This 
expedition being terminated, he reascended the Rio 
Mapiri on his raft, and then took the route across 
the forests leading to Aten and Apolobainba, where 
he arrived exhausted with fatigue and overcome with 
the fever which he had caught in the regions of Ti- 
poani. The country here assumes a more agreeable as- 
pect. The forests have disappeared, or occupy only the 
horizon ; the eye rests on pretty grassy slopes, interspersed 
with scattered shrubs, and frequently with charming groves, 
Here several species of cinchonas are met with, which 
scarcely exceed the shrubs in height, and of which the flow- 
ers embalm the air with their delicious perfume. The town 
of Apolobamba is the centre of one of the districts of Bolivia 
which was first explored. For a long time its forests have 
been stripped of cinchonas. 
At the end of July 1S47, M. Weddell visited the province 
of Coraboya, one of the most interesting in Peru. It is di- 
vided by the Cordillera into two regions, one of which com- 
prehends a long series of valleys, which furnish the greater 
part of the cinchonas now exported from the Peruvian Re- 
public. It would be difficult to give an idea of all the vege- 
table treasures buried in these solitudes. The thirst for 
gold originally peopled this district, but the forests have re- 
