For almost three centuries Ecuador was ruled by Spain, most of the time under the authority of the Viceroy at Lima, until in 1822 occurred the decisive battle of Pichincha, which assured the independence of Ecuador. Soon after, the country joined New Granada and Venezuela in the Colombian Federation, but in 1830 set up for itself a separate republic. Many difficulties, insurrections, and revolutions have occurred quite up to the present time, 11 changes of the constitution since 1830; but settled conditions favorable to the country’s development are now hoped for.
Government
Ecuador is a centralized rather than a federal republic, with the usual three departments. The President, elected for four years by direct vote, is ineligible for the consecutive term. Congress consists of a Senate with 32 members and a Chamber of Deputies with 48. Suffrage is limited to males over 21 years of age, who can read and write. The Judiciary consists of a Supreme Court at Quito, and six others in as many large towns, municipal and civil courts, and justices of the peace. The Provinces are administered by Governors named by the Executive, the Departments or Cantons by jefes politicos, political chiefs, the Parishes by political lieutenants, and the municipalities by presidents.
The Republic, the capital of which is Quito, has 15 Provinces and two Territories. Of the former, five are along the coast, and ten are inland occupying the mountainous section. The coastal Provinces from the north are Esmeraldas, Manabí, Guayas, and El Oro. Los Rios, although not touching the coast, may be counted with them, as occupying a part of the lowlands, it shares most of their characteristics. The mountain Provinces, beginning at the north are Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, León, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Bolívar, Cañar, Azuay, Loja. Of the two Territories, Oriente is of course the section at the east, which belongs to the Amazon Basin, the other is the Galápagos Islands, nearly 600 miles from the main land.
These divisions, with approximate area and population, their capitals with population and altitude follow:
Population
The population of Ecuador, approximately 2,000,000, as in all of these tropical countries is in three principal classes: the whites, the pure Indians, and the mestizos, those of mixed blood, here Spanish and Indian. There are also some negroes, mulattoes, and zambos, the last of negro and Indian blood. Those who in these tropical countries are called white in most cases no doubt have a slight Indian strain, as few women were among the earliest settlers; but no prejudice exists on this account. Even when the Indian strain is apparent, having money and education they enjoy the same social standing and occupy the highest positions. Those of pure Spanish blood in most of the countries must be few. The whites with some of the mestizos form a cultured class with the manners and customs for the most part of such society anywhere. The sons of wealthy families are often educated abroad and many have traveled in Europe. Paris fashions in dress are followed and continental customs generally. Courtesy is a marked characteristic, possibly carried to excess.
| Provinces | Area, in square miles | Population | Capitals | Population | Altitude, in feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeraldas | 5,465 | 20,000 | Esmeraldas | 6,000 | [5] |
| Manabí | 7,892 | 100,000 | Portoviejo | 8,000 | [5] |
| Guayas | 8,330 | 120,000 | Guayaquil | 94,000 | [5] |
| Los Rios | 2,296 | 32,800 | Babahoya | 7,000 | [5] |
| El Oro | 2,340 | 35,000 | Machala | 6,000 | [5] |
| Carchi | 1,495 | 36,000 | Tulcán | 8,000 | 9,765 |
| Imbabura | 2,415 | 70,000 | Ibarra | 10,000 | 7,298 |
| Pichincha | 6,217 | 200,000 | Quito | 100,000 | 9,348 |
| León | 2,595 | 110,000 | Latacunga | 15,000 | 9,187 |
| Tungurahua | 1,686 | 107,000 | Ambato | 14,000 | 8,554 |
| Chimborazo | 2,989 | 125,000 | Riobamba | 20,000 | 9,177 |
| Bolívar | 1,160 | 45,000 | Guaranda | 8,000 | 8,751 |
| Cañar | 1,520 | 74,000 | Azogues | 10,000 | 8,321 |
| Azuay | 3,874 | 150,000 | Cuenca | 40,000 | 8,465 |
| Loja | 3,706 | 100,000 | Loja | 15,000 | 7,281 |
| Territories | |||||
| El Oriente | 80,000 | 200,000 | Archidona | 1,000 | unknown |
| Galápagos | 2,868 | 1,000 | |||
[5] These capitals are at or near sea level.
The bulk of the population is frankly mestizo and Indian. The mestizos may be more than one half of the population, the Indians perhaps one quarter. The Indian population may be regarded as in three principal classes of widely different character: those of the coast, of the highlands, and of the Amazon Basin. The Indians of the coast region were of various tribes speaking different languages. Superficially christianized, most of them have become more or less amalgamated with the whites or with negroes, but in the forests of Esmeraldas where the Indians, living under similar conditions, closely resemble those of the Napo district, the Cayapas retain their language and customs, continuing to live apart from and to avoid the whites. If not molested they are hospitable and affable with strangers.