cision; and who unites to the general curiosity of her sex, habits of patient and elegant investigation; to such an one, botanical science presents a fair and wide field of interesting inquiry.

The objects of examination, in this delightful science, are not only beautiful and appropriate in themselves, but, it may be added, are generally to be met with in situations, and under circumstances, most favorable to the promotion of wholesome entertainment to the student. The garden, the field, the wood, the fringed footpath, the secluded avenue, the bowery lane, and the river's margin, are all full of pleasant bearing, and rich in rational entertainment to the botanist. To such an one, the vegetable companions of a rural walk speak a language, not only intelligible, but delightful, to a degree not at all comprehended by those, who are satisfied to know that a tree is a tree, that a shrub is a shrub, a flower a flower; in short, by those who see and think after the fashion of Wordsworth's wanderer

"A primrose on the rivulet's brim,
A yellow primrose was to him,

And it was nothing more !"

The study here recommended is one, the fascinations of which begin to be perceived almost in the acquisition of the very alphabet of its language; and herein it possesses in a high degree the poetical charm of association. There is, indeed, a species of exquisite heraldry in that generic and specific emblazonry which distinguishes one flower, and one family of flowers, from another. The detection of a single species of plant, is generally the key to an acquaintance with a whole family; the history, habits, and appearances of which, have all their respective points of attraction with the initiated; while, on the other hand, those who have never passed beyond the vulgar vocabulary of the rustic, or the common-places of the gardener, are little aware of the pleasures which they miss. Such indivi

the most exquisite productions of nature unworthy of their notice, or find it convenient to spurn at the application of the student-at all events, they shut themselves out from the participation of an equally innocent and fertile source of rational amusement.

It might appear enthusiastic to assert that any great moral influence necessarily resulted from an attention to this, or, indeed, to any other purely human science; but it may be safely contended, that, in the study, collection, and arrangement of flowers-or other objects of natural bistory-less harm, at least, has generally accrued to the student, than, haply, has sometimes been the case, in connexion with the pursuit of other equally attractive, but more dissipating sources of juvenile gratification.

It is, indeed, to young persons in general, that these remarks are more especially addressed. To such, Sir J. E. Smith, in the preface to his elaborate "Introduction to Physiological and Systematical Botany," says, "I would recommend botany for its own sake. I have alluded to its benefits as a mental exercise; nor can any study exceed it in raising curiosity, gratifying a taste for beauty and ingenuity of contrivance, or sharpening the powers of discrimination. What, then, can be better adapted for young persons ?"

To some young persons, and to females especially, the Linnæan nomenclature may at first sight appear a little repulsive; but this impression will vanish with the slightest familiarity; and few females, with an average endowment of those qualifications of shrewdness and perseverance which generally ornament the sex, will be long in learning what may be called the grammar of the science. Nor, with the aid of suitable works, would any fair aspirant to botanical knowledge fail, in the course of a single season, to become acquainted with the name and scientific designation of almost every vegetable within her range of daily observation.

*

THE manner of building the houses at Balsa Puerto, on the Cachi Yaco, is entirely different from that of the coast. With the exception of the church, and the governor's and curate's houses, which were plastered, and the latter divided into apartments, the ranchos of Balsa Puerto consist each of a single room, from twenty to thirty yards long, and about a third of the length in breadth. The sides are made of small bamboos, six or seven feet long, placed vertically, and close together; but, from their inequalities, admitting light and air. The roofs are made of the leaves or branches of palms, the leaves on one side of the stem being turned back, so as to make them double. The roofs are supported by piles driven into the ground, with poles lashed to them, and sloping upwards, so that the ranchos are some of them twenty or thirty feet high in the middle part of the roof, whilst the sides are not more than six or seven. The roofs require renewing every three or four years, and are not entirely water-proof during heavy rain. There are no windows, the inequalities of the bamboos that form the walls rendering them unnecessary. The doors are made of bamboos tied together, instead of being fixed into the ground. These ranchos have a neat appearance outside; and the interior of those we looked into was clean. They contain little furniture beyond a few cooking utensils and straw hammocks; and four or five married couples live in each rancho. We followed a path a short distance beyond the pueblo, and found the country was not entirely covered with wood. Some cattle, which we afterwards understood to belong to the former governor, were feeding, and were in fine condition. Being near sunset, we

met several Indians returning from their chacras. The men had their pucunas (tubes for shooting poisoned arrows) in their hands, and netted bags filled with fruit, &c., slung across their backs. Most of them had also different-colored feathers, red and yellow, suspended from their necks. The women carried cargoes that appeared to be heavier than the bags and pucunas of the men. Both sexes had their faces and various parts of their bodies stained with red and purple dyes; which, added to their figures not being good, their dark complexion, and the long black hair of the men, as well as women, gave them a barbarous appearance; but they were peaceable in their manners, and most of them saluted us as we passed.

Sunday being here kept as a day of suspension from duty, the Indians were all painted in their best style, dressed in clean white or blue frocks and trowsers, and their hair ornamented with a few red and yellow feathers tied to tails behind. They collected at an early hour, and went quietly and respectably to the church, where they remained about half an hour, although there was no clergyman to officiate. Having returned in a similar manner, the day's amusements commenced, the most favorite of which appeared to be dancing to the music of drums and fifes made of bones; whilst they occasionally partook freely of chewed yucachicha. The dyes with which they stained themselves were evidently considered first-rate ornaments: some had red stripes or diamonds on their forehead; others a red stripe downwards under each eye; and several were rouged; a purple dye was applied as a substitute for whiskers, beards, and mustachios; whilst some of the females had supplied themselves with boots of the same

59 ATHENEUM, VOL. 2, 3d series.

material. A tall, stout deputy of the curaca's, who appeared to be considered one of the most fashionable of the party, had a red stripe under each eye, and red or yellow feathers in his hair. There were several deputies to the curaca, their badge of office being a small supple stick, with which they inflict punishment on their fellow Indians whenever the curaca deems it necessary. The deputies did not consider it beneath their dignity to join in the general amusements; but, on the contrary, were the musicians, going about from rancho to rancho playing most cheerfully, until towards the evening, when the chicha produced an effect, and several, not excepting females, were intoxicated. * On Monday morning all the women of the pueblo mustered in the plaza to know what work they were to perform, there being a law which obliges them to labor for a certain time during the first three days of each week, in keeping the pueblo clean, or otherwise, as the governor may direct. We were employed during the day in airing such of our clothes, &c., as had been damaged by the Indians in wading, and in endeavoring to get an account of some seeds I had picked up on the walk from Moyobamba. We found the natives far from intelligent; several of the seeds were not known; and although the district we had passed through abounded with the trees from which cascarilla is produced, I had not been able to learn which was it.

*

Some of the Tabitinga Indians have a preposterous practice of tying ligatures so tight under the knees and elbows, that the circulation of the blood must be in a great measure stopped; the joints swell in consequence, and the flesh and muscle of the limbs entirely dwindle. Their knowledge and application of particular herbs is as remarkable as their ignorance of others. Whilst we were at Tabitinga, an Indian who had gone into the woods to collect sarsaparilla, was bit by one of the deadly snakes of the country, and was brought back

to the pueblo supposed to be dying. Being a Christian, Padre Bruno went to perform the last offices of the church over him; but the women took charge, and, by the application of herbs, cured him in three days. The poison in which the Indians dip their wooden spears, and the small arrows for their pucunas, has frequently attracted notice by its power and rapidity of execution. Its preparation is kept a mystery confined to certain tribes, and that manufactured by different tribes may, perhaps, differ; but from its great value amongst the Indians, the difficulty of procuring it, and from those by whom it is manufactured being inferior tribes, and of the lowest order of savages, I suspect that the preparation is not altogether a safe process. I had endeavored to get some of this poison, but without success, until some men, seeing a large knife of the same kind as those with which we had paid the Laguna canoeman, and which we intended to keep, as it might be useful, being about eighteen inches long, brought several bows, arrows, &c. to obtain it; but we had got sufficient bows and arrows, and would not give the knife. At last, after various attempts had been made, a jar of poison was brought, and the knife was then given. Yet so much was the poison coveted, that when we reached the Rio Negro, it was stolen; and I am indebted to Colonel Zany for another jar, which is now in the hands of Mr. Brodie. Its effects are rather stupefying than convulsive. Salt and sugar are both considered remedies, taken inwardly, and applied externally.

During our daily visits, the padre related to us various anecdotes and descriptions of Peru, which corresponded generally with what we had seen. At his house we met with a Peruvian, a man about six feet high and unusually stout in proportion, who, amongst other adventures, had had an extraordinary engagement with a tiger, the marks of whose claws and teeth he still retained on his head and arm, although several years

about fifty people before it could be destroyed. It was at length shot.

The padre had some large landtortoises, which were considered good to eat, and even preferred by some people to tartaruga, or the water-tortoises. I cannot say I admired such diet; but in a country where monkeys and vaca marina are considered delicacies, and snakes and alligators have been eaten, not to mention human flesh, anything will go down. I bought a small monkey at Tabitinga, of an uncommon species. It had been domesticated, and was a playmate of the children. The man to whom it belonged, who was an Indian, objected at first to parting with it; but a good price being offered, he at last consented. When he was receiving payment, supposing we wanted to make a mess of it, he said it was not large, but it would be good to eat. A land-tortoise, that stood a yard high, was said to have been sent as a specimen to the emperor. They abound in some parts of the Montana. The day before we left Tabitinga, a fisherman,

whom the padre had sent out, returned with a vaca marina that he had harpooned; and as I had repeatedly expressed a wish to see one, and if possible to get a skin preserved, the padre sent to us before he allowed it to be cut up. Its shape, with the exception of the snout, resembled a seal; the skin that of a whale or porpoise, smooth, of a dark lead color on the back, and with a few occasional hairs. The snout, and particularly the lips, were like those of an ox, whence it derives the Spanish name of vaca marina, and Portuguese "peixe boy." The tail was broad, not thick, and horizontal. On each shoulder was a fin joined close to the shoulder, broad, but not thick, and tapering narrower and thinner towards the extremity. The dimensions of this one, which was full grown, but not considered fat, were about ten feet long, and eight round the thickest part of the body; but as the Indians were not willing to move it, and I agreed with the fisherman to buy the skin, I was not so particular as I otherwise should have been in measuring.

singin'?

North.-No, James; 'tis my gardener's little daughter, Flora—

Shepherd.-Happy as ony burd. Music is indeed the natural voice o' joy. First, the bosom feels free frae a' anxiety-then a kind o' gladness, without ony definite cause or object, settles ower the verra essence o' life; -erelong there is a beatin' and stirrin' at the heart, as some suddenly remembered thocht passes ower it like a brighter sunbeam,-by and by, the innocent young cretur, sittin' by herself, puin' wi' her wee white hauns the weeds frae amang the flowers, and half loath to fling them awa', some o' them bein' sae bonny, although without ony fragrant smell, can nae langer contain the happiness flowin' within her snaw-white breist, but breaks out,

to some auld Scottish sang, maist likely mournfu', for bliss is aye akin, sir, to grief. Ay, sir, the Flowers o' the Forest! And sae truly doth she sing, that I kenna whether to ca' her Sweet-voice, or Fine-ear! Has na that cadence, indeed, a dyin' fa'? Nor should I wonder if the unseen cretur at this moment had her face wat wi' tears!

North.-Methinks, James, I could better bear everlasting darkness than everlasting silence. The memory seems to have more command over sights than over sounds. We can shut our eyes, yet see all nature. But music, except when it breathes, has no residing place within the cells of the ear. So faint, so dim, the dream, it hardly can be said to be— till one single note awakes, and then