The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-28
A. LITTLE REPUBLIC.
Salvador, the Land of Abund-
ance and Revolutions
NEARLY a MILLION PEOPLE.
The Girls Marry ~ the First Opportunity
Sixteen volcAnoes-Forests az
Mahogany aad Balsam.

Jose ce Guatemala begins the republic of
salvador. the smallest, though the second
IN point Of population of the countries Of
Central America. The little republic Is in
deed the most denseIy populated country
IN both Americas, with the exception. per.
haps. Of some OF the lesser Antilles, for
the salvadorian republic contains only an
area OF . little over 200 English square
miles, while its number of inhabitants is
nearly $4,000.
Salvador was always regarded as very
rich country. and before the conquest was
called By the natives .'Cnscatian, or land
OF abundance. - The country was already
at that period very densely populated. and
Its inhabitants were warlike and fierce.
They defended their independence in such
spirit that 1t required ali the energy of
such man as Pedro Aivarado TO conquer
and TO bring them under the Spanish do
minion.
Nowadays. though Salvador suffered and
suffers still from constant wars and insGr-
rections, the country is fairly prosperous,
well governed, and the best educated re-
public OF Central America. Agriculture is
extensively and success sfully practiced, and
the export of the products OF the country
IS augmenting every year.
As leave the shores oil Guatemala and
approach these Of Salvador / remark the
difference between these countries. The
coast of Guatemala is low and sandy. with
the mighty chain OF the Andes far IN the
interior; that o! Salvador is high and
rocky and OF volcanic origin There is no
sandy beach here. but the hills descend TO
the waters edge and form q steep. fantas-
il hnv l.ar ax,A v~sfrx A.sr
and covered With crown Of the most ex-
quisite and parasitic plants.
The first harbor meet on the coast of
Salvador is Acajutla- II is considerable
town as the export place of The north
western part of the republic. IL is con-'
nected by railway with the city Of Sonso-
matte, further in the interior. one OF the
most important places in the republic.
Acaiutia looks half like city and half
like an Indian village. The houses are
low, but the streets are paved. But what
a pavement, / believe that even the
streets OF San Francisco have better pave
ment than those OF Acsjutla. 1t Is tor
ment for the poor berefooted Indians to
walk on those streets. and even those who
use shoes or boots are very anxious to
avoid them.
The houses of Acajutia. and especially
outside OF the town proper. form very
curious sight. They are constructed of
bamboo or rather coysles branches, and
are protected by enormous and very high
fences. But those fences are neither of
wood nor OF stone or wire. but Of cactus.
The cactus. and especially the giant car
don. grows here to an enormus sire and
very rapidly. Planted around the house.
in . short time II will grow 10 considera-
bic height, and will form most magnifi-
cent and durable fence. No animal and no
snake can force such . formidable fence
and the inmates OF the house can rest Sc
cure. Sometimes the giant carbon reaches
the stupendous height of sixty feet, and
when this Is the case, you cannot see the
house, but only . green and high palisade
of tall and priekly cacti.
From Acajutla to La Libertad, the
shore OF Salvador Is known under the
name Of Costa del Balsam, or Balsam
Coast II Is magnificent part of the re-
public. green and fresh. fragrant from the
odor Of numerous gorgeous flowers,
watered by many mountainous creeks,
covered with numerous haciendaS and
fincas The hills, not too high or
too steep, run in soft fluctuations
to the shore, while toward the
east they become higher and higher until
they meet the principal chain of the Andes.
The Balsam coast itself produces indigo,
sugar, cotton. tobacco. coffee and maze.
and is of extreme fertility. But the glory
of the coast is the famous baisam known
as "Basam of Peru" which is produced in
the woods of the coast OF Salvador in such
quantities that over 81, 600 pounds are an
naaliy exported.
Speaking about balsam, must mention
that under this term we understand now
the baisams OF Peru and of Toiu. Both
have a very fragrant odor and they are used
in confectionery. in perfumery and es-
pecially in medicine. The two balssms
mentioned are very similar 10 each other
in their properties. and both are produced
By trees OF the genus Myroxyion. or Myro-
spermum OF the Leguminosae. Myrosperm-
um perniforum. commonly called the
"Quinauino, grows in abundance in Gen.
trial America. and chiefly from this beanti-
full tree is prepared the celebrated baisam
OF The coast of Salvador. Myrospermum
toluiferum is 4 very similar species to the
former. but grows mostly on the banks OF
Magdaiena river and in the mountains OF
Venezuela and New Granada. The noun
tains OF Toiu gave the name 10 this balsam.
At the end OF Costa del Balsamo We meet
the fair town of La Iibertad. the second
harbcr on the coast OF Salvador. The
scenery around the town Is magnificent.
in fact the prettiest on the Coast. for just
behind the harbor begin the hills. covered
with the most costly woods and with mag
niticent iruft-bearing trees OF the tropics.
The cool stream. The river Cniliama. runs
close to the town; and on lis banks the
luxuriani vegetation reigns IN its super
natural beauty. Over the houses OF the
town tower the high cocoAnut trees laden
with fruit. and close to them fingers the
graceful carlca papayas ceioa. henisaro.
matapalo, guaysgo del monte. guiscoyoi.
mahogany and nispero form dense groups;
featherv, delicate leaves OF banana and
MAINTAINS shine with the color OF purest
emeralds under the glowing sun. and tbs
eolumoar carbon cactus shoots like an
arro- toward the hsae sky.
The town OF La Lberfad is a small place.
CON posed OF sd0be houses. surrounded by
Iaxnrjant gardens. Ii is the harbor of San
salvador. the capital OF the republic. and
sn merchandise destined to that place has
To 20 through La Lsbertad. TIE coach runs
from the harbor TO the capital. which -
situated further in the mountains, on
high yoicanic plateau.
san Salvador Is nos fine and wesl-buiit
civ. though il has none Of its former
spenksor. In lss4 il was q magnificent city
With many churches. palaces Aad spsen-
e,.a buildings. bur in the night oi ArTsfss
az that rear IL was completely destroyed
sv one az those terrific earthquakes which
are so frequent In Central America The
CIV Vas rebuilt and was again partly de-
.srayesf In ig-S II remains however. al