The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-10

9 [ERRo


But before 60 further let me tell you
something OF Ecuador. The name means
equator. and Ecuador Is the land OF the
equator. II lies sandwiched between Coz
omhia and Brazil and Peru. on the west
coast OF South America, In the shape OF q
great fan, the handle Of which extends in
to Northern Brazil and she scalioped rim
OF which is washed by the Pacific ocean,
1t is one OF the least known countries of
the world. Parts OF IL have never been sur
veyed. ard today the different geographical
estimates Of its size range all the way from
the bigness OF California to that OF Texas.
The cssast is low. and rich tropical vege-
tatiou extends from the ocean back for
cne hundred miles or less TO the foothills
of the Andes. The Andes cross the country
fran rorth 10 south in two great parallel
ridges. uphoading between them series
of beautiful valleys. in which about nine
senths OF the people i've. These valleys are
from a mile and a half 20 two miles above
the sea. and give the interior q healthy
climate. which 10 more like that of New
York city than OF the equator. Quito. the
capital Is situated In ere Of the highest
of these valleys II IL almost two miles
above the altitude OF Washington CITY.
Here the weather Is that OF May in Ohio
all the year around. East Of the Andes the
country Is a tropical wilderness. A great
branch of the Amazon. the Maranon river.
flows along its southern boundaries. and
steamers so up the Amazon, enter the
Maranon and bring YOU within compara-
lively short distance Of Quito. In fact.
am told you can come TO within four days
mule travel Of Quito by water via these
great rivers and the streams which flow IN
TO them. Ecuador thus has almost every
climate known TO man. Scores of its An
dean peaks are ever covered with snow.
and 1t has mighty glaciers. Caimboraxo,
n fah afs les Il, -
ao feet above the sea. and tine great val
ley OF Ecuador is guarded by swenty-one
peaks. ranging In height from three TO
four miles. while there are seventeen other
peaks which are more than two miles In
height. Today in Guayaqui. the aid is flied
with ashes. They come from one OF Ecua-
doris ten active volcanoes. and every week
or so an earthquake makes the ground
tremhle. The houses Of Guayaquil are built
% withstand the earthquakes. They are
OF wooden timbers SO Joined and spiiced
that they can sway with the trembling of
the earth and not break. The frame work
Is then covered with bamboo laths. made
by splitting the cane. Upon these bamhoos
a coating Of plaster is spread. This makes
the exterior OF the houses look as though
the walls were backed with brick and
stone, when, In fact. they are actually
made up or good-sized fishing poles Just
now vast deal OF building Is going on
here, and the hammer Of the carperter
mailing on these laths Is always to be
heard. Much of the lumber used comes
from Oregon and Washington. and some
from Georgia.
Where the Melons Grow ON Trees.
The equatorial coast region. where now
am. IS full of vegetable wonders. This is
today the richest and most productive part
OF Ecuador. In my sixty miles sail up the
River Guyas TO this city I passed vast ha-
ciendas covered with grass as green as the
fields of Egypt in winter in which fat cat
tie. horses and mules stood up to their bel
lies and ate without having TO bend down
TO reach the grass. l passed rich plarlta-
tons OF sugar cane. which here grows to
the height of ten feet, and which grows for
twenty-five years without replan,ing. I
saw vast caeao orchards loaded down with
the fruit from which our chocolate comes.
Tall cocoanui palms bearing green balls Of
fruit as big as your head swayed to and
fro high above the houses OF the planters.
and strange fruits of so many kinds that
l cannot give you their names. were offered
to as again and again. The wharves OF
Guayaauil are lined with the Ecuadorlan
natives who have brought fruit and other
things to self They have melons which
come from trees, known as the papoya.
This fruit Is the size OF a large musk mel