176 A VOYAGE TO Book IV. 



out and laid on fkins kept for that purpofe, or more 

 generally on vijahua leaves, and left in the air to dry^ 

 When fully dried, they are put into leather bags, fent 

 to market, and fold by the carga or load, which is 

 equal to eighty-one pounds ; but the price is far from 

 fixed, being lx)metimes fold for fix or eight rials per 

 carga, though lets than the charge of gathering ; but 

 the general price is between three and four dollars, 

 and, at the time of the armadas, when the demand is 

 very large, riles in proportion. 



This tree produces its fruit twice a year, and in the 

 feme plenty and goodnefs. The quantity gathered 

 throughout the whole jurífdi¿}ion of Guayaquil 

 amounts at lean to 50,000 cargas. 



The cacao trees delight ib exceffively in water, that 

 the ground where they are planted muil be reduced to 

 a mire ; and if not carefully fupplied with water, they 

 die. They muil alfo be planted in the fliade, or at 

 Icail defended from the perpendicular rays of the fun. 

 Accordingly, they are always placed near other larger 

 trees, under the fhelter of which they grow and flou- 

 rifh. No foil can be better adapted to the nature of 

 thefe trees than that of Guayaquil, as it favours them 

 in both refpeéts ; in the former, as conñfting wholly 

 of favannahs or wide plains overflowed in winter, and 

 in fummer plentifully watered by canals; and with 

 regard to the latter, it abounds in other trees, which 

 afibrd them the' requinte íhelter. 



All the care neceíTary in the culture of this tree 

 confrfts in clearing the ground from the weeds and 

 ihrubs abounding in lb wet a foil : and this is fo necef- 

 fary, that, if negleéted, in a few years thefe vegetables 

 will deííroy the cacao plantations, by robbing the foil 

 of all its nourifhment. 



The laft lieutenancy to be defcribed, is that of 

 Daule. Thii principal town is of the fame name, and 

 waflicd by the river, to which it owes its appellation. 

 It contains many fpacious houfes belonging to the in-^ 



habitants 



