"Travels and Adventures of an Orchid Hunter" is a captivating account of Albert Millican's incredible journey through Colombia in search of rare orchids. His vivid descriptions of the stunning landscapes, the challenging terrain, and the colorful characters he encounters along the way truly bring his adventure to life.

Millican's passion for orchids shines through in every page, as he recounts the thrill of discovering new species and the painstaking effort required to collect them. His detailed observations of the plants, as well as the natural beauty of the Andes mountains, make for a fascinating read for any nature enthusiast.

The author's adventurous spirit and determination to overcome obstacles to achieve his goals is truly inspiring. This book is not only a fascinating exploration of the world of orchids, but also a testament to the power of perseverance and passion.

Overall, "Travels and Adventures of an Orchid Hunter" is a captivating read that offers a unique glimpse into the world of orchid collecting and the wonders of the Colombian wilderness. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in botany, travel, or simply a good adventure story.

Book Description:
This is quite the adventure tale and travelog. We see cities, peoples, plants and wildlife of Columbia and the ports our intrepid 'hunter' visits on the way there and back. It is an interesting period; a canal is being cut through Columbia to the city of Panama by the French . The characterisation is appropriate to the time - Europeans and the South American elite are seen as admirable, especially in comparison to the natives and blacks. Indeed, the deaths of several of Millican's native support staff along the way seem to be of minor concern. However, the native who went over the precipice was carrying an important cook pot! Millican describes collecting orchids by cutting down many huge trees for a few plants per tree which, we find out later, are unlikely to even survive the trip back to England. The large areas pillaged by previous collectors are an annoyance since he has to travel further afield to collect orchids. He tells us they don't seem to be growing back in areas already stripped. The hiking and boating into and through the jungles and mountains are impressively narrated, but he reduces our admiration by counting up 9 jaguar skins he's carrying back with him, not to mention the crates of plants.