Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

346 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP.
was in many battles, and during a " revolution "
Guayaquil he was wounded by
at
two musket-balls
in the hip and thigh (which still give him periods
of torture), was made prisoner, and banished to
the coast of Peru without a cent. At Payta he
set up a school which gave him a bare living.
While a soldier he had taught himself to repair
the lock of a gun, and at Payta he began to teach
himself all kinds of light work in metals, in which,
being an ingenious fellow, he succeeded admirably,
so that when some years later new revolutions
recalled him to Ecuador, he opened at Ambato a
flourishing business what we should call that of
o
a whitesmith employing Indian smiths to do the
heavier work. He resisted the most urgent solicita-
tions of the Government to take a new and higher
commission in the army, and resolved to maintain
himself by the work of his hands and brain. Add
to all this, that he is a man (like yourself) over-
flowing with the milk of human kindness, and you
will comprehend how I came to regard him with
great affection, and regretted much having to part
from him.
Santander's lameness prevents his travelling
much, but he knows the Cinnamon gatherers and
sometimes trades with them. I will give him full
instructions as to what we want. ... If any one
can get the Canelo without going to the spot
where it grows, which is a good month's journey
out and in from Ambato I believe it is Santander.
[A year later he has a reply from Santander, a
translation of which he sends to Mr. Hanbury.]