The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24

sndindigo atone time ngurcdisrgeiy among vens-
xuelas oxpor6. but both Of them have now almost
disappeared Next after coffee and cocoa come
tobacco and cotton We should note finally
that the aspect of tho anos level plains OF the
orinoco, q region, described by Humboldt as q
vast sea Of grasa seems TO have changed oonsid-
erably sincoi II was visited by that traveller. When
DR.. p Jonas saw the llanos in 1878. the immense
plains were thiokly grown with low trecs among
which the chapano evergreen oaks) and the mimo-
50 were chiefly represented. Tho change in the
character Of the Landscape IL attributed 70 the do
cline Of horse and cattle rearing in the llanoa, a
decline caused partly by political disturbances
and partly by q mursin which broke out In 1913
among horses mules and asses and which ragged
during several subsequent years
HI.
In Ecuador no systematic survey has been
undertaken. and there Is considerable difference
Of opinion concerning the extent Of its territory.
According 10 one authority. the area Is only
1877 s06 English square miles: another makes II
24S $50 by planimotric calculation on the basis
Of the map published by Kiopertin his hand atlas
1879: Kiepert, by tho way. did not assign TO Ecu-
ador the disputed territory along both sides Of
the Maranon The population was computed
in 1878 At 866, 1877. exclusive Of about 2Oo.0 900
Indiana The author OF the book before rock
ons the total population at 100000, the whites
being credited with nearly $4,000
There is no doubt that Ecuador IL one Of tho
most opulent and beautiful countries on tho globe
The mountains and virgin forests hold immense
riches in their depths vast number OF valuable
trees offering tho spontaneous tribute Of succulent
fruits woods coveted for building and cabinet
making: deserving Of particular notice are the
cotton tree, the Peruvian bark tree, tho cinnamon
tree the India rubber treo and tho shrubs plants
which yield spices and scents, medicinal bal
sams, resins. gums and laos The working Of tho
mines however which was sodulously carried on
under tho Incas and tho Spaniards, IL now proc
tcally abandoned. and agriculture is now almost
entirely neglected. The capital city. Quito. tho
scat OF the Inca Atahuallps, has nearly 100. 900
inhabitants and is situated some 10000 feet
above the level Of tho Goa. Perched on the side
OF mountain. between two orators which are not
extinct, IL overlooks the streams and tho great
springs Of the two watersheds which descend to
the Pacific and the Atlantic Though rich in
historical memories. IL Is o dull and backward
town from the viewpoint OF civilization; its chief
festivals arc tho intermiunble PROFESSIONS which
traverse the steep streets and in which all the
men ofthe city take part Some religious buildings
in the Moorish style recall the architecture oftho
Conqustadorea II possesses beautiful OBJ
servatory, tho FIRST erected on tho Equator: a
public library and a normal school. o celebrated
university and manufactures Of cotton, linen
and flannel Tho author Of this book informs
us that its white inhabitants are distinguished
for the purity and nobility Of their type. the
variety of wtheir dress and the innate good
taste which. even in tho lowest Glasses, IL
shown In the cut Of their garments and
tho harmonious and picturesque combination
NJ colora in their carDeta. nowhere Derhaus
even In the most gifted races, is artistic feeling
carried to a greater height After Quito. Quay
aquil is the most important town in the Republic;
its port monopoLes the output Of tho so-called
Panama hats, the fabrication OF which is special
ity OF Ecuador: the best are clade in the town OF
Monte Cristo. from the leaf named toquilla. Cuen-
ca, the capital Of the province Of Azuay. and tho
third city Of the State. carries on an important
trade in grain and has several sugar refneres
and cotton mill In Its neighborhood may be
distinguished traces Of the great causeway Of the
Incas, which formerly connected Quito with Cuzoo
From political point Of vew Ecuador differs
from Colombia and Venezuela in being a unified
instead OF federal republic According to tho
Constitution Of 1843. which has been modified
several times and especially in 1859. the executive
authority is vested in President chosen for six
years by q majority Of 900 electors. who, on their
part. elected by universal suffrage. He is
eligible only after the conclusion OF the succeeding
Presidential term, His authority is limited; he
cannot dissolve nor prolong the Congress, nor has
he the right Of veto The legislative power is e1er-
csed by two Chambers. The first Is composed
OF eighteen Senators how they are chosen is not
stated by tho writer Of this book, nor by any Of
the other authorities whom we have consulted
The second Chamber Is made UP Of thirty deputies
who arc elected by universal suffrage. The Jury
Slavery was abolished in 1854. but tho lot OF tho
aborigines has not been greatly improved since
that date. They arc employed in tho conveyance
Of heavy burdens left In misery and ignorance.
and arc forcibly conscripted TO serve as private
soldiers. the whites refusing To enter the army
except as officers Only emigration, which was
long stupidity opposed, can develop industry and
agriculture in this republic.
~.
The isolation OF Bolivia counteracts its natural
advantages, and shuts it of almost completely
from the commercial activities Of other South
American peoples 1t formerly had one outlet on
the Pacific in the port Of Cobiia but this It has lost
owing to the war between Chill and Peru, in which
Bolivia took for time tho part OF the latter
Blatant At present. its surplus products must
seek an exit through Gillian ports though ulti-
not yet much used. Of the Amazon and the River
Plate Before the war for independence very ex-
tensive traffic was maintained between Bolivia
and the provinces Of tho River Plate for supplies
OF cattle and mules In the Az, 900 square miles
that form its territory. Il is estimated that there
are 1900 900 inhabitants, of whom Indians OF
pure blood constitute nearly three-fourths: Of
whites there very few: tho remainder Of the
population arc, for tho most part. half breeds
In spite Of the abolition Of slavery the Indians do
not yet enjoy complete liberty, for their labor 10
regulated and they have to give some days to tho
State Plantations Bolivia lies for the most part
within tho tropical zone. but Its climate and pro-
auctions dependent rather upon the elevation
OF different parts OF the land than upon it's geo
graphical situation. In tho Punas. or highland
districts, the air Ii always dry and perceptby cold
in the Yungas or low, tropical tracts. tho climate
Is unhealthy Tho country. on tho whole is
ceptionally fruitful The valleys and lower plains
exhibit the tropical fora In all their splendor
while in the mountainous parts all kinds Of
metals, and especially gold. silver, copper and
lead are extracted from the earth. The firstnamed
metal however. Is in Bolivia very difficult to