Guayaquil

Guayaquil, chief commercial city of Ecuador, and capital of Guayas province, lies in the fertile valley of the Guayas, some 30 miles above its mouth. From the river the town, with its pagoda-like towers, presents an imposing appearance, which is not borne out on closer inspection, and the climate is hot and unhealthy, yellow fever being very common. Most of the houses are built of bamboo or wood and earth, and covered with creepers. The custom-house is the most noteworthy of the public buildings, which include a cathedral and a town-hall. The town, however, is now lit with gas, there is a complete system of tramways, and the streets are gradually being paved; while in 1888 considerable progress was made with much-needed water-works. In 1889 a statue to Bolívar was erected. The leading manufacturing establishments are combined steam sawmills, foundries, and machine-shops; there are also ice-factories and a lager beer brewery; and the place is noted for its straw hats and hammocks. Ships drawing 18 feet can come up to the breakwater, and below the town there is a wharf, with a dry-dock opposite. The railway into the interior was stopped at Chimbo (60 miles). Most of the trade is in the hands of foreigners; of 200 vessels of 150,000 tons that clear the port annually, nearly half the ships, and more than half the tonnage, are British. Annual exports average £1,300,000, of which cocoa represents nearly five-sixths; the other principal items are coffee, ivory-nuts, rubber, lides, and specie. About 7 per cent. is shipped to Britain, and 14 per cent. to the United States. The town was founded by Orellana in 1537, and removed to its present site in 1693. Pop. about 30,000. The Bay of Guayaquil is the only important bay on the west coast of South America north of Patagonia.