Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
ORCHID COLLECTING IN NEW GUINEA
The Arduous Search for Orchids In Terri
BILE Country.


The Arduous Search for Orchids in Terri
BILE Country.
From the Gardeners Chronicle.
With great pleasure I announce to you the
fact that arrived here yesterday with my
plants in the finest order, and you will get
striking novelties at last from this terrible
country and you will have every reason to be
satisfied. 1t was the best time to collect the
Elephant Moth Dendrobe. They had lust
finished growing and some were in full bloom,
and oh, what glorious thing 1t is! forgot all
my troubles when saw the first on some rocks
near the huts where was staying, where the y
grew on the bare limestone among great num-
bcr Of human skulls and bones.
The natives do not bury their dead, but put
them in a kind Of coffin, and then place them on
these solitary rocks, which stand scattered about
the shore or beach, and which can be reached
only at ebb tide. Here in these rocks the plants
grow most luxuriantly, exposed to the full sun,
and when the weather is rough they often get
the spray OF the sea water. At first the natives
did not like the idea Of collecting the plants of
those rocks; they were afraid the souls of the
departed, whose bones we're lying there bleach.
ing in the sun, would resent it, but when they
saw the gorgeous handkerchefs, beads. looking
glasses and my brass wire l offered them for
the plants, they did not trouble themselves any
boldly went and rooted out every plant TO be
found.
The majority of the plants, however, come
from places where no bones are found. The
plants grow chiefly on these solitary, much
honeycombed. linestone rocks, always ex-
posed to the sun. or getting only a very little
shade during part OF the day. They also
grow on the trees in the Ficus groves more
inland, although very sparingly. found the
big specimens on the highest trees in the
dense jungle, where it is very rare, and only
saw few on the worry highest trees. I should
think in cultivation it will require plenty OF
moisture while growing and in culture like
that suitable for d. Mobile.
In size and coloring it varies as much from
the ordinary D. Phalenopsis as Dendrobium
Wardianum from d. crassinode; the largest
flowers measure ~ inches across, none meas
uring less than 315 inches saw few plants
with branched spikes, but this seems only ex-
cess OF strength; the spikes are generally from
~ to 80 inches long; on some counted up to
twenty-five flowers. The color 10 very warm
red, and some are differently colored and va
riegated, but bright and clear. The flowers last
long time, individually eight weeks, and
during my stay Of three months l saw many
plants flower in April, May and June. only
hope and wish may get safely back again and
that the plants will arrive in good condition.
Going by myself there would mean endan-
gering my head very much, 30 think it is
better to wait till next year, when can go
with trading expedition. On my arrival here
had to pay S20l as shipwrecked man for
my passage, for which told you they at first
demanded $3.50. Now, on my telling them it
was very mean to demand anything OF a ship
wrecked man. they gave me 80 per cent de-
duction. Well, there is no doubt these people
(the European traders) are the meanest people
on earth and do not like them and shall be
glad when can travel somewhere else. The ma
tives are not bad, only somewhat troublesome.
They think no more of killing anybody than
your cook does Of killing a fowl; but they
would not easily attack Dutch trading party,
knowing how well armed they are, especially
when one takes little care not to quarrel
with them. They go almost entirely naked,
and are the finest re e Of savages have seen
up to now.
One of their idols, the god with the golden
eyes, had to place in q case to accompany the
plants and take care of them on the Journey.
The savages wanted this, and did it to satisfy
their superstition. They always carry these
gods into their battles. put all the plants in
baskets had made by the natives here, and
when all was packed they gave q war dance in
front of them.