Scortechini has received Hooker's letters of September and August but was unable to answer them at once as he was suffering from jungle fever. He shall probably be unable to do anything for another month. He had intended to spend the rainy months systemising his collection and sending it to RBG Kew. He wishes it were done: some specimens are beginning to suffer from insect damage. He was surprised to learn that what he took to be a Podolasia was actually a Cyrtosperma; it shows how difficult identification is without a good library and specimens. This is why he is anxious to get to RBG Kew to work on his collections. He does not know how many Pseudoeugenia could be identified with Eugenia, and he discusses why. If his plant is identical to Eugenia skiophila, he would say that E. skiophila is not a Eugenia. If he recovers as hoped, Scortechini plans to spend a further 18 months in the field, devoting much of his time to palms. Since arriving he has met with several bamboos but never one in flower. Some months ago Scortechini sent to Carnel[?], for publication, two or three Scitamineae with figures. He got a Petraeovitex with flowers over half an inch long. The accrescent calyx is exactly like the one figured in ICONES PLANTARUM. Scortechini believes he has several novelties but they are all mixed up in the field and, with scarcely any books for reference, it is difficult to decide if a plant is new or not. He adds that he has not yet met with a Podostemaceae in their waters but will look out for one. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.