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South America: Granada

This republic lies between lat. 1° 50' N. and 5° 30' S., and long. 69° 52' and 80° 35' W. On the N. it is bounded by New Granada; on the E., by New Granada, Brazil, and Peru; on the S. by Peru; and on the W. by the Pacific. It has an area of 248,380 sq. m., and an estimated population of 1,100,000, of whom but a small proportion are of pure white blood, the great majority being the descendants of the original Indian inhabitants.

RESOURCES. The products of every zone can be grown in this favored country. The cacao, coffee, sugar-cane, and pine-apple, orange, and other fruits are cultivated in the lowlands; while corn, potatoes, etc., flourish in the uplands. The natural productions are, however, of more value than those which are due to the labor of man. The cinchona tree, sarsaparilla, ipecacuanha, vanilla, copaiba, cassia, balsam of tolu, and other trees and plants yielding valuable medicinal remedies, are found in great profusion. In forest trees suitable for ship-building, furniture, and ornament, Ecuador surpasses almost all other countries; while it also abounds in those whence the shellac and copal gums, gum lac, gamboge, and caoutchouc are obtained. There also flourish numbers of fibrous plants, adopted to the manufacture of cordage, cloth, and paper. Its mineral wealth is also great, but remains untouched. Gold, silver, iron, zinc, copper, antimony, tin, and other metals are found in such quantities as to admit of profitable working. The Indians, still remembering the cruelties of the Spaniards, hide all traces of the precious metals as far as possible, and do what they can to stop mining, though the silver ores are worked to a certain extent. Notwithstanding a fertile soil and a kindly climate, agriculture is at a low ebb, and manufactures are in a still worse condition, little being made beyond the commonest articles. The braiding of sombreros from native grasses is the most important branch. The exports consist chiefly of cacao, sugar, and the useful and medicinal products of the forest. The value of exports averages £

1,250,000 a year. One great obstacle in the way of commerce is the fact that the country has no railroads and no decent highways. The products of the section E. of the mountains have either to be brought across the Andes on the backs of animals, or to be carried down the Amazon, which flows for a great part of its course through a wilderness, to the Atlantic.

GOVERNMENT AND HISTORY. - Theoretically the government is republican, but the country has nearly always been ruled by the strongest military chieftain. By the amended constitution of 1878, power is entrusted to a president elected for four years. There are two vice-presidents, one of whom assumes executive power in case of the death or removal of the chief magistrate. Legislative functions are exercised by a senate of 18 members, and a chamber of deputies of 30. The country is divided into 13 provinces. Quito, the chief city, is the capital. BOLIVIA.