The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-02
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 years 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. It was made for Mir. Erastus Corning, of Albany, who is enthusiastic about eXotics, and espe. cially plants of the orchidaceous species. His collection Is considered the finest in the United States, and is valued at more than $l00,000. Mir. Morris was met yes 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 lished 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 a 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 ill., ness did not prevent him from collecting rare specimens in both branches. "I have about 700 plants for Mir. Corning" he said, that think will please him, as among them are some that l consider very rare-that is, they ought to be if there is always as much trouble in get ting them as 1 have had. l was obliged to leave 450 plants at Para, but those I 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 epidendrums which make them most difficult to climb. It 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 to South 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 to it is charming. I leave to- morrow for Albany with the specimens I have gathered, and after rest at Indi- annapolis with my family I shall again return to Brazil, as there is yet much to be seen. l have a book in manuscript ready for the printer which describes some of my experiences in Brazil on my first trip up the Topajos river, one of the tributaries of the Amazon. During my last visit l was unfortunate enough in my hunts for these orchidaceous plants to contract levers which prevented me from making such trips as l had previously undertaken, After my rest here, how ever, 1 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 I want to get off the beaten track. When 1 come across an empty beer bottle hung up as an ornament in an Indian hut, it makes me feel as though l 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. l was charged 20 per cent duty on the value of the plants I brought up with me, and think it a shame that rare plants brought into the country should be charged for so highly. Besides the orchids have great quan- tity of herbs used in making the poison wouralia, with which experiments are to be made, as it is thought to be valua- ble as cure for hydrophobia. Among other medicinal roots 1 have some macapa, which was once given me by an Indian woman when I was very sick with fever and inflammation of the liver.