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CHAPTER XVI
EXPLORATION OF THE EASTERN ANDES OF PERU :
RESIDENCE AT TARAPOTO
( June 22, 1855,^ March 22, 1857)
[DURING the period comprised in this chapter
Spruce appears to have kept no regular Journal,
and though there are many scattered notes referring
to his various excursions, they are so imperfect, and
sometimes so condensed and enigmatical, that I
was at first in despair as to how I should find
materials for an account of what was, to himself,
one of the most enjoyable and interesting portions
of his travels, as well as one of the best districts for
a botanical collector which he met with during his
fourteen years' residence in the equatorial regions of
South America.
his letters to Mr. Bentham and
Fortunately,
to his friend Mr. Teasdale were so full as, to some
extent, to supply the place of Journals, while one
of his most interesting botanical excursions was
described in some detail in an article he contributed
to the short-lived periodical the
Magazine of July 1^73. With these materials,
and by making use of some of the descripti 1
mentioned above, and greatly assistec
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