The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-03-30

from the Galapagos Islands, setting towards
| which are numerous currents, into one of
which we drifted, and one morning woke
| to find ourselves in an uncomfortable proX-
| unity to one of the more easterly islands.
| A quartermaster, stationed in the chains,
had kept the deep sea lead going all night,
and at daylight his cry Of "eight and
half" had quite an ominous sound. The
order to {" stand clear of the starboard
chain " was at once given, but before it
could be followed by "let go starboard
anchor" the fantest breeze began to fill
our sails, which fortunately being from off
the land, soon waited us out of danger,
and by noon we had all the sea-room we
| desired. A few days after this, We reached
the line of the equator, where we We're WIS.,
tied by old Neptune and his consort, and
the fun for a time was both fast and furi-
| Gus, many scenes occurring during his stay,
| ludicrous in the extreme.
Sixty-eight days out from San Francisco
we made the Gulf of Guayaquil, up which
we sailed until near Malpelo Point, when
we let 60 anrhor. A short distance from
our anchorage is the Bay of Tumbes, in
which Francisco Pizarro cast anchor when
he first Toasted his eyes on this land
of promise; nor is it surprising that the
beauty, fertility, and wealth Of bountiful
nature unrolled before him, should have
filled the Spanish intruder with amazement,
| I,
with visions of the magnificent conquest
that this transcendently beautiful portal of
Peru opened to his imagination. Empty
ing into this bay is the river Tumbes, near
| Tumbes now called Corales,) supposed to
have had, at the time of Pizarros first visit,
| 1527) over one hundred thousand inhabit-
ants. The town now consists of a few cane
huts, scattered about and occupied by list
less inhabitants. The impoverished sue
cessors of those who dwelt in the once
proud city of Tumbes, whose very name
has been taken from it with its riches. On
an eminence near this town are to be seen
the ruins of an ancient Peruvian Temple of
the Sun, which is said to have been among
! the most sumptuous of the nation, that at
! Cuzo alone surprising it in size and rich
ton dedicated to the sun, chapels for the
worship of the moon, the stars, the thun-
derbolt and the rainbow. Near it stood
one of the monasteries of the Virgins of
| H. oil irht hn
ton of the Peruvians consecrate to the
uses of the sanctuary an eminence OF pecu-
liar adaptation for beholding and worship
ing the first glorious emanations of their
rising god, and for witnessing the proofs of
his benefcence in the rich productions of
the magnificent garden spread far and wide
at the foot of the holy habitation of his
golden and jeweled image.
As the "shades of night were falling
fast" we returned aboard our vessel. The
next morning the anchor was weighed, and
with a strong breeze ran along the island
of Puma. 1t was upon this island that
Pizarro landed on his second voyage to
! Peru, to await the passage Of the rainy
season, and the arrival of achievements,
before penetrating into the interior of the
country of the Inca, for the purpose of
plumber and subjugation. We soon entered
the Guayaquil River, up which we pro-
ceeded some sixty miles, to the town of the
same name. The banks of this river are
low, and support an impenetrable wall of
yerdure-trees, shrubbery, vines and flags,
/ being closely twined and matted, and stud
ded with wild flowers Of great variety and
brilliancy Of coioring, giving shelter to
birds of rich plumage and sweet song. In
few hours we reached the city of Quay
aquil, which is the chief sea port Of the
Republic of Ecuador. 1t contains twenty
five thousand inhabitants, mostly Indians.
The city extends about one mile north and
south along the west side of the river. Its
main street is sixty feet wide, and fronts
the river, and is the principal business
matt and promenade. The houses are
always frame, and mostly three stories
high, with a balcony extending over the
! side walk. The lower story or basement
is invariably used for stores and shops, and
the upper floors for residences. There are
to be found here one college and two or
three public schools; but the people are
mostly very ignorant and superstitious.-
The principal industry is the manufacture
of cigars from native tobacco, and the MAX
ing of hammocks, mats and Panama hats.
The chief exports are cacao, cinchona, sar-
saparilla, orchilla weed, and Panama hats.
Ecuador also abounds in fine timber, sew
eral species Of which are largely exported.
Directly in rear of the town are two small
mountains or hills, which, being covered
from base to summit with the mangrove,
form beautiful back ground to the city.
From either of these eminences, you have
all extended and magnificent view of the
surrounding country. Tropical fruits of
all kinds grow all along the river in the
widest luxurianee, and with many of the
natives form their chief food. While we
remained at this place, the Governor of
Ecuador paid an official visit. He is 2 fine
looking man, with quite an intelligent
cOunUeIldHCc. HC "SiC oid"h up
to receive him, and fired salute. They
appeared to be we'll drilled and efficiently
armed. The soldiers of Ecuador are mostly
either Cholors or Negroes, the latter largely
predominating. We remained at Guaya-
quill some ten days, and then put to sea
again, sorry to leave such splendid fruit,
but quite rejeiced at escaping from the
mosquitoes, which, for numbers and blood
| thirstiness, | never saw excelled. | mag
ined l had suffered from these insects
while on the picket line, in the swamps of
Virginia; but while in the Republic of
Ecuador, my sufferings from them amounted
to torture. With a strong current and a
full head of steam, we soon reached the
mouth Of the river, and traversiug the gulf
to it's mouth, once more entered upon the
waters of the Pacific, and heading south
ward, reached the town of Payta in few
days, description OF which place ] will
defer giving till my next as fear this let
ter has already become of a wearisome