Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/65

59 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO N. W. AMERICA. 59 29th. To-day my expectations of exploring the botany of Rio was dissapointed by the heavy showers that fell & drove the musquitoes into the shade, so that one is ex- posed to the double inconvenience of the wet and the bite of the insects. I called on Dr. Hookers friend Mr. Bray [?] to whose kindness I was much indebted during my stay here. His politeness added some fine serpents to my collection of reptiles & his country house was open to me in all my excursions. 30th. Although the rain continues very heavy, fatigued with yesterday's inactivity I resolved to venture forth. In my progress toward the hills I had no difficulty in select- ing specimens among the profusion of Begonire, Melas- tornse & Filices among which I pursued my journey. In the afternoon as I returned loaded with plants and mois- ture, I finished this day by a pleasing adventure. As I was returning to the town, I was met by a gentleman who entered into conversation with me on botanical subjects & as he spoke French fluently we had no difficulty in carrying on our discourse. On parting Dr. Gomez said our love for the same science, was a sufficient introduc- tion among botanists & invited me to spend all my leisure hours with him. Dr. G. had studied in Paris & was well versed in the natural system, a partiality for it he had derived from the lectures of M. Richard. The few remaining days I had to spend at Rio were entirely occupied in making excursions to the neighbour- ing woods & mountains ; but although I easily collected as many plants as I was well able to carry, the continual rains rendered them so difficult to prepare, that I lost above half the collection I had amassed. In one of my excursions I ascended the highest hills in the neighbourhood of the town & although the height was very moderate the heat of the climate rendered it a sufficiently fatiguing journey. I walked for about 2 miles