d I am told
that for some time it was in consequence opposed by the Protestants, and
especially favoured by the Roman Catholics."

"Yes," said John, "I believe that for a very long time a very strong
prejudice existed against it; and even physicians opposed its use,
considering it at best a dangerous medicine. It is now, however,
acknowledged to be a sovereign remedy for ague of all descriptions. I
believe the French astronomer De la Condamine, who went to Quito in the
year 1735 to measure an arc of a degree, and thus to determine the shape
of the earth, was the first person who sent home a full account of the
tree."

"We call it quinquina," (bark of barks), observed Don Jose. "Some of
its virtues, if not all, were known to the Peruvians long before they
were discovered by Europeans."

"Ah! that is the reason it is called quinine by the English," observed
John. "I did not before know the derivation of the word."

"Since its use became general in Europe, the export trade of the
quinquina has been very considerable," observed Don Jose. "Forests
containing groves of these trees are found in various regions throughout
the northern parts of the Cordilleras. My friend here has been engaged
since his boyhood in collecting the bark, as was his father before him.
When searching for new districts, it is the custom for the
cascarilleros, or bark-collectors, to set forth in parties of a dozen or
more men, with supplies of food and tools. They make their way into the
unknown forest, where they suppose, from its elevation above the sea and
its general appearance, that the chinchona trees will be found. They
are always accompanied by an experienced searcher, called the
_cateador_. He climbs the highest tree in the neighbourhood, and
searches about till he discovers the _manchas_, or clumps, of the
chinchona trees by their dark colour, and the peculiar reflection of the
light from their leaves, which can be distinguished even in the midst of
a wide expanse of forest. He then, descending, conducts the party
through the tangled brushwood, often for hours together, marking his way
with his wood-knife, till he reaches the clump. Here they build rough
huts, such as you see around us, and commence their work. The first
operation is to cut down a tree, when the bark is carefully stripped
off, and kept as free as possible from dirt or moisture, as it easily
becomes mouldy, and loses its colour. It is important to cut the tree