re marshy places produce the sarsaparilla, and a sort
of wood for dyeing called _Llangua_. This last-named article has not
yet found its way to Europe.

In the month of May the Indians assemble to collect the Peruvian bark,
for which purpose they repair to the extensive Cinchona woods. One of
the party climbs a high tree to obtain, if possible, an uninterrupted
view over the forest, and to spy out the _Manchas_, or spots where there
are groups of Peruvian bark trees. The men who thus spy out the trees
are called _Cateadores_, or searchers. It requires great experience to
single out, in the dark leaf-covered expanse, the Cinchona groups merely
by the particular tint of the foliage, which often differs but very
little from that of the surrounding trees. As soon as the cateador has
marked out and correctly fixed upon the mancha, he descends to his
companions, and leads them with wonderful precision through the almost
impenetrable forest to the group. A hut is immediately built, which
serves as a resting-place during night, and is also used for drying
and preserving the bark. The tree is felled as near the root as
possible, divided into pieces, each from three to four feet long, and
with a short curved knife a longitudinal incision is made in the bark.
After a few days, if the pieces are found to be getting dry, the bark
already incised is stripped off in long slips, which are placed in the
hut, or in hot weather laid before it to dry. In many parts,
particularly in the central and southern districts of Peru, where the
moisture is not very great, the bark is dried in the forest, and the
slips are packed in large bundles. In other districts, on the
contrary, the bark is rolled up green, and sent to the neighboring
villages, where it is dried. Towards the end of September the
_Cascarilleros_[79] return to their homes.

In the more early periods of South American history, the bark was a
principal article of Peruvian commerce. Since the commencement of the
present century its value has, however, considerably diminished, chiefly
in consequence of adulterated and inferior kinds, which are supplied
from other quarters, perhaps also on account of the more frequent use of
quinine; for in the production of the alkaloids less bark is employed
than was formerly used in substance. During the war of independence the
bark trade received its death-blow, and for the space of several years
scarcely more than a few hundred-weights of bark we