The Osceola times., 1881-06-18
RARE ORCHIDS FROM BRAZIL.
Some Results of Ernest Morris --latest
Explorations on the Rio Negro.
New York World


Some Results of Ernest Morris Latest
Explorations on the Rio Negro.
New York World.
Ernest Morris, the young explorer and
naturalist, who has been several wears
past sending letters to the World from
Brazil, arrived in this city last Saturday
in the British steamship Glen Logan.
from Para. He brought with him as a
result of his last trip very large collec-
ton of peculiar orchids which grow in
the valleys of the Amazon and the Rio
Negro. The collection, he thinks, in
cludes some plants that had never before
been seen in this country. 1t was made
for Mr.. Erastus Corning, of Albany, who
is enthusiastic about exotcs, and espe.
cially plants Of the orchidaceous species.
His collection is considered the finest in
the United States, and is valued at more
than 100000. Mr.. Morris was met ves-
terday enveloped in heavy coat, which
he wore, he said. as protection against
the cold. He said that from Christmas,
when he wrote the letter which was pub
lisled in Mondays World, until he start
ed for home, he had remained in or near
Pauapessasu, on the Rio Negro, owing to
a severe fever which he contracted in
the forest few months before. While
the fever lasted he was unable TO make
any long trips into the interior. but being
naturalist and an enthusiast about ento-
mology and botany, and, being in one of
the richest and most beautiful parts of
the country drained by the river, his i'll
ness did not prevent him from collecting
rare specimens in both branches. 81
have about 700 plants for Mr.. Corning"
he Said, that think will please him, as
among them are some that | consider
very rare-that is, they ought to be if
there is always as much trouble in get
ting them as ! have had. | was obliged
30 leave 450 plants at Para, but those |
brought with me are in good condition
and they stood the sea voyage very well.
many OF them blooming and bearing
beautiful flowers while at sea. The
most rare is the Cattlya FL Dorado,
which grows on very high trees covered
with epdendrums, which make them
most difficult TO climb. Ii is not easy TO
cut them down, as the wood of the tree
on which they grow is very hard"
When asked if he intended TO return 10
Sonth America, he said: Yes, indeed.
There is no country in the world so
beautiful, Notwithstanding all reports to
the contrary, and the climate when one
gets used 10 it is charming. | leave to-
morrow for Albany with the specimens
have gathered, and after rest at lndi-
annapolis with my family ! shall again
return to Brazil, as there is yet much TO
be seen. have a book in manuscript
ready for the printer which describes
Of axz,aFianans in,
first tripup the Topajos river, one of the
tributaries of the Amazon. During my last
visit ] was unfortunate enough in my
hunts for these orchidaceous plants TO
contract levers which prevented me from
making such trips as | had previously
undertaken, After my rest here, how
ever, | shall start out again, and hope to
be able to visit Columbia and Ecuador
The valley of the Amazon is too civilized
for me, and | want to get off the beaten
track. When | come across an empty
beer bottle hung up as an ornament in
an Indian hut, i makes me feel as
though ] was too near home. Although
the Amazon has been well explored,
people have no idea of the richness in
gums, herbs and rubber of the country
through which its tributaries flow. In
trading along these rivers the Ameri-
cans are far behind the English and
French, although goods of American
manufacture are considered the best and
are most expensive. | was charged 20
per cent duty on the value of the plants
brought up with me, and | think it
shame that rare plants brought into the
country should be charged for so highly.
Besides the orchids have great guam
tity of herbs used in making the poison
wouralia, with which experiments are
TO be made, as it is thought to be valua-
BILE as cure for hydrophobia. Among
other medicinal roots | have some
macapa. which was once given me by an
Indian woman when | was very sick
with fever and inflammation Of the
I,snr