"MANUEL ISIDORO BELZU.
"RAFAEL BUSTILLO.
"Minister of Foreign Relations.
A certified copy:
"AMARO ALVAREZ,
"El Official Mayor."
Lisboa also failed in Ecuador. Here is a copy of a law passed by the Congress of Ecuador, on the 26th of November 1853:
"To the Senate and House of Representatives of Ecuador, in Congress assembled.
"Whereas it is a necessary measure to open to foreign trade the Amazon and all the Ecuadorian rivers which flow into it; and whereas, in order to attract navigation and commerce, we should hold out some privileges and stimulants to immigrants intending to trade on the said rivers: Therefore we decree—
"1. That the rivers Chinchipes, Santiago, Morona, Pastasa, Tigre, Curaray, Naucuna, Napo, Putumayo, and other streams flowing into the Amazon, are declared of free navigation, including that part of the last named river which belongs to Ecuador.
"2. Vessels navigating the said rivers, to whatever nation they belong, will be free during twenty years from paying any kind of tax, and goods imported during the same time will also be admitted duty free.
"3. The public authorities of Napo, or of any other canton established now, or which may be established hereafter, are authorized to concede thirty cuadras of land to foreign or Ecuadorian families, on condition that this land be cultivated for the term of five years from the date thereof, under the penalty of forfeiting the same if this condition is not accomplished. A larger extent of land may be obtained, on the recipient giving a bond for payment twelve and a half years after, if a foreigner, and twenty-five years after if an Ecuadorian, &c.