After much anxiety, extending over a period of three years; after all the hardships, dangers, and toils which a search in virgin tropical forests entails; and after more than one disappointment, it is a source of gratification and thankfulness that this great and important measure, fraught with blessings to the people of India, and with no less beneficial results to the whole civilized world, should have been finally attended with complete success, in spite of difficulties of no ordinary character. How complete this success has been, will be seen by a perusal of the two last chapters of the present work, and of Mr. McIvor's very interesting Report in the Appendix; it is sufficient here to say that it has exceeded our most sanguine expectations. CONTENTS. [Illustration] TRAVELS IN PERU. [Illustration] PREFACE PAGE V CHAPTER I. DISCOVERY OF PERUVIAN BARK. The Countess of Chinchon--Introduction of the use of bark into Europe--M. La Condamine's first description of a _chinchona_-tree--J. de Jussieu--Description of the chinchona region--The different valuable species--The discovery of quinine 1 CHAPTER II. THE VALUABLE SPECIES OF CHINCHONA-TREES--THEIR HISTORY, THEIR DISCOVERERS, AND THEIR FORESTS. I. The Loxa region and its _crown barks_ 21 II. The "_red-bark_" region, on the western slopes of Chimborazo 26 III. The New Granada region 27 IV. The Huanuco region in Northern Peru, and its "_grey barks_" 30 V. The _Calisaya_ region in Bolivia and Southern Peru 35 CHAPTER III. Rapid destruction of chinchona-trees in South America--Importance of their introduction into other countries--M. Hasskarl's mission--Chinchona plantations in Java 44 CHAPTER IV. INTRODUCTION OF CHINCHONA-PLANTS INTO INDIA. Preliminary arrangements 60 CHAPTER V. Islay and Arequipa 69 CHAPTER VI. Journey across the Cordillera to Puno 88 CHAPTER VII. LAKE TITICACA. The Aymara Indians--Their antiquities--Tiahuanaco--Coati--Sillustani --Copacabana 108 CHAPTER VIII. THE PERUVIAN INDIANS.