These mountains form watersheds giving rise to two river systems, flowing respectively toward the sea and toward the interior, which ultimately develop into 91 distinct rivers, only one, the Guayas, on which Guayaquil is situated about 60 miles from where it empties into the sea, being of any great commercial value. The other rivers which are navigable for a short distance are the Daule and the Vinces in the west, while the extension of the Amazon in Ecuador, there called Marañon, affords direct communication with Brazil.
A census has never been taken in Ecuador but the population is estimated at 1,500,000. Perhaps 1,200,000 would be nearer the true figure. Seventy-five per cent. are Indians, 200,000 half-breeds, 100,000 white, 2500 negroes, with a floating foreign population of 7500.
There are fewer railways in Ecuador than any other country of South America. One American owned and operated railway running from Duran, on the opposite bank of the river from Guayaquil to Quito, a distance of 285 miles, may be described briefly as the scenic road of the world. There is another road of about 20 miles, and one or two contemplated lines.
Ecuador has been cursed by revolutions, and depressed by the lack of enterprise on the part of its various governments. Guayaquil is perhaps the dirtiest city in the world and at all times a hotbed of filth and disease. For these reasons it has been shunned by tourist and traveler alike, although it is one of the best markets I know of on the West Coast.
The country has no great industries. It is, however, susceptible of enormous developments. It has no agriculture to speak of, but can successfully raise sugar, tobacco, coffee, cotton, cocoa, bananas, wheat, cereals and tropical and temperate fruits. Its forests are rich in cabinet and hard woods. Medicinal trees abound, as well as the tagua nut tree from which the ivory nut comes, and the species of palm which furnishes the fibre for Panama hats. Cocoanuts are plentiful and of an excellent quality. There are minerals in quantities sufficient to pay for the mining, such as coal, sulphur, copper, gold, iron and silver. Oil has recently been discovered. Over most of the land disease lurks and the ambition of the native is dead.
The monetary unit of value is the sucre, named after one of its military heroes; it has a value in American money of 48.7 cents. Ten sucres are the equivalent of a pound sterling and are called a condor, after the Andean bird.
There are a few English houses in business here, but the bulk of the trade is under German control. Many Syrians have come to the country and established themselves as petty merchants.
Cocoa is largely grown in Ecuador, the bean being of a high grade, rich in color and fats. Strange to say, practically none of the chocolate of commerce is made here, the crude dried bean only being exported. In 1912 $7,653,505 of this article alone was exported, chiefly to Europe, despite the fact that we, as a nation, are the largest users of chocolate.
Forty million one hundred and forty-three thousand four hundred and fifty-two pounds of tagua or ivory nuts worth $936,511 were exported in the same time, most of it going to Germany to be made into buttons; one German village has fourteen factories elaborating this product into the finished article of commerce.
Panama hats are made by individuals, collected by jobbers, and exported, this trade in 1912 amounting to $1,372,051.