156 A VOYAGE TO Book IV, 



CHAP. V. 



Of the Inhabitants^ Ciijloms^ and Riches of 

 Guayaquil, 



GUAYAQUIL contains, in proportion to its di- 

 menfions, as many inhabitants as any city in all 

 America ; the continual retort of iirangers, drawn 

 thither by commerce, contributing very greatly to in- 

 creafe the number, generally computed at twenty 

 thoufand. A great part of iis eminent families are 

 Europeans, who have married there ; beñdes which, 

 and fubftantial Creoles, the other inhabitants are of 

 different rails, as in the cities already defcribed. 



The inhabitants capable of bearing arms, are di- 

 vided into companies of militia, according to their 

 rank and caft ; fo that on occafion they may be ready 

 to defend their country and property. One of thefe 

 conñfting entirely of Europeans, and called the fo- 

 reign company, is the moil numerous, and makes the 

 mofl fplendid appearance among the whole militia. 

 Without confidering their wealth or nation, they ap- 

 pear in arms, and pay a proper obedience to their of- 

 iicers, who are chofen by themftlves, from their own 

 body, being generally fuch as have ferved in Europe, 

 and, conlequently, more expert in military affairs. 

 The corregidor is the commander in chief; having 

 under him a colonel and major, tor difciplining the 

 other companies. 



Though the heat here is equal to that of Panama, 

 or Carthagena, yet the climate diftinguiflies itfelf in 

 the colour of the human fpecies ; and if a certain au- 

 thor has liyled it the equinodtial Low Countries, in 

 alluiion to the refemblance it bears to the Netherlands 

 of Europe, it may, with equal propriety, bear that 

 appellation from this fingularity, namely, that all the 

 natives, except thofe born from a mixture of blood, 



are 



