BALSAM PRODUCTION. 



301 



1863. 



JUISNAGUA, a moderate-sized pueblo, about six leagues from 



Sonsonate, formerly rich in cacao but at present of small account. p uel)log on 



It is the first town where balsam is produced ; there are the Balsam 



in the vicinity about 400 balsam-trees. coast. 



TEPECOYO, OR COYO (Indian Mount of Wolves), on an elevated Tepecoyo or 

 ridge, the valleys on either side being well watered, is situated c y- 

 twelve leagues south-east of Sonsonate. About a league south 

 of the town there is a gold mine, which was opened in 1832, and 

 the ore sold in Guatemala. Owing to the depravity of the 

 Spanish miners, the Indians rose against the owner and expelled 

 him, since which they will not allow any one even to visit it. 

 The produce of this pueblo in balsam is small, having been last 

 year only six arobas of twenty-five pounds. 



TAMANIQUE, situated in a circular valley, surrounded by very Tamanique. 

 high and heavily-timbered mountains, among which are numerous 

 tigers, wild hogs, lions (puma), and four-fingered green monkeys. 

 Vanilla is plentiful, but not of the finest quality. There are at 

 present worked 1400 balsam-trees, producing about 160 arobas 

 yearly. In the vicinity are 1500 cacao-trees of fine quality, 

 producing seventy arobas of cacao-beans. The Indians are a 

 drunken and superstitious race. 



CHILTIUAPAN, near the sea, on an elevated and extensive chiltiuapan. 

 jlateau, between two rivers, the Sonto and the Sonsapuapa, 

 running to the sea with fine fish, and numerous caymans. The 

 dense forest surrounding this pretty pueblo contains 2569 balsam- 

 trees, producing 450 arobas of balsam, value about $3500. The 

 lext article of value is cacao, of which there are 1700 trees, 

 value of produce this year $830. The Indians of this pueblo 

 are honest and very industrious, as besides the balsam and cacao 

 they have now coffee plantations, and grow much Indian corn. 

 The dress of the women consists only of a small petticoat, 

 crimson with a black stripe. They speak the Nahuat idiom. 



TALNIQUE, at the foot of the Cerro del Tamagas, or Snake-hill, Talnique. 

 situated on a most extensive and fertile plain, six leagues from 

 Sonsonate, south-east. There are not above 500 balsam-trees 

 about this pueblo. It is more noted for its fine qualities of 

 timber, vanilla and cacao. It is from this vicinity that the best 

 mom (fustic) is obtained, and also the finest grained rosewood 

 (Grenadilla). The streams, of which there are several, abound in 

 leeches, which are sold in Sonsonate at four reals each. The 

 [ndians being in constant communication with Sonsonate are a 



