Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

THE FORESTS OF ALAUSI 237
journey farther down. I brought recommendations
from Ambato, and the people seemed willing to
assist me ;
but
the houses were so miserable, so
full of dirt and vermin, and so utterly destitute of
furniture (for
I could procure neither bedstead,
chair, nor table), that I saw I should work on my
less comfort than I used to
plants with infinitely
do in a palm-hut in the warm forest. Another and
greater difficulty was the procuring of food for my
beasts, for all the pastures were dried up, and a
man who sold me alfalfa for two days then told me
he could spare no more. About a league from
Chiinchi, and 1000 feet lower down, there is a canefarm
called Guataxi, whose owner, Senor Jose Leon,
I had known in Riobamba. Almost in despair,
I rode down to consult with him, and he at once
invited me to take up my quarters in the hacienda,
where he has a good house, with neatly-papered
rooms and decent furniture. The cane-grounds
extend along the banks of a stream, which before
falling into the Chanchan forms a considerable lake,
on whose shores there was still a little herbage ;
besides that a few squares near the house were
with alfalfa.
planted
On the third day after "establishing myself at
Guataxi, having procured a guide, I proceeded to
Lucmas, a short day's journey lower down the
river, where there are a few small chacras tenanted
by Indians and Zambos. There I was told I should
be near the Cascarilla roja (Red Bark), and I was
recommended to a person called Bermeo, who had
worked a good deal at getting out cascarilla and
sarsaparilla. I at once secured his services, and,
as he turned out an honest, active fellow, I took