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VIEWS FROM A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
#37 - ECUADOR
Size: 3" x 5"
Copyrighted: 1891
Lithographer: Joseph P. Knapp
  
Illustrations: A Native Workshop; Market Woman; Yaguachi Near Guayaquil;
Native Chief; View of Guayaquil
| Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
| GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR. |
| Guayaquil is the
principal seaport of the Republic
of Ecuador, S.A., and is situated
on the western bank of the
Guayaquil River, about 20 miles
from its mouth. The city forms
part of a low and level tract of
land bounded on the north by the
hills of Santa Ana. The south
portion is the new town; the
northern section is the old town,
and occupied mainly by the poorer
classes. The houses are generally
built of wood or bamboo and mud,
hence the necessity of a strong
fire brigade. Since 1870 the town
has been drained, the river
dredged, and an abundant supply
of water brought from a distance.
The principal streets are lighted
with gas. The public buildings
have no architectural interest.
All the churches are externally
built of wood. There are two
colleges, two hospitals, civil
and military, municipal buildings
and Custom House. In the course
of the 17th and 18th centuries,
the main facts of its history are
the attacks of pirates, and
disasters by fire. |
| As its
harbor is one of the best on the
Pacific coast, permitting vessels
of large tonnage to come up to
the town, Guayaquil is the centre
of the foreign trade, not only of
Ecuador but of part of Peru, and
has regular steamship connections
with both American and European
ports. The population is a
mixture mainly of mulattoes,
mestizos and Indians. At certain
points along the line of struggle
which finally resulted in
delivering Ecuador from the
Spanish yoke, Guayaquil bravery
was pre-eminent. The State takes
its name from the fact of its
being crossed by the equator. The
Andes chain runs through it, and
no where in the entire Andean
system do the individual heights
attain so magnificent a
development as in the Ecuadorian
section. The State abounds in
noble volcanic summits,
presenting a charming variety of
form. |
| The
Normal School of Guayaquil is
open to Indian children. Since
the abolition of slavery in 1854
all races and classes are equal
in the eyes of the law, and there
are no hereditary distinctions of
rank or title. |
| Population, 40,000. |
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