4oa ulloa's voyage to sooth aMerica. 



the head of its harbour in the north-eaft part ; and the few inhabitants confift chiefly 

 of cafls, and fome Spaniards, but very few Indians. To this lieutenancy has been 

 annexed the'town of Machala, on the coaft of Tumbez, together with that of Naran- 

 jal, the landing-place of the river of the fame name, called alfo the Suya j near which is 

 a road leading to the jurifdiftions of Cuenca and Alaufi. But neither of thefe towns 

 is in a more flourifhing condition than that on the illand. In the latter refide both the 

 lieutenant and prieft, to whom the others are fubjed, both in civil and ecclefiaftical 

 affairs ; Puna not only being the principal town, but great Ihips, by reafon of the 

 depth of its harbour, load there, which cannot be done at Guayaquil, on account of 

 the fand in its river ; while others come there to load with wood. 



The jurifdiftions of Machala and Manaranjol produce great quantities of cacao, and 

 that of the former is efleemed the beft in all Guayaquil. In its neighbourhood, as in 

 the ifland of Puna, are great numbers of mangles, or mangrove trees, whofe interwoven 

 branches and thick trunks cover all thofe plains ; which, lying low, are frequently 

 overflowed. As this tree is little known in Europe, it mufl not be paffed over without 

 a fhort defcription. 



The mangrove is fo far different from other trees, that it requires a foil daily over- 

 flowed by the fea. Accordingly, when the water is ebbed away from the fpots where 

 the mangroves thrive, they exhale very difagreeable effluvia from their muddy furface. 

 This tree no fooner appears above the ground, than it divides itfelf into very knotty and 

 diftorted branches ; and from each knot germinates a multitude of others, increafmg 

 fo as to form, when grown up, an impenetrable thicket. Nor is it poffible to difcern 

 the fhoots belonging to the principal branches ; for, belides this entangled labyrinth, 

 thofe of the fifth or fixth production are equal in magnitude to thofe of the firft, which 

 is generally of an inch and a half or two inches in diameter ; and all fo flexible, that 

 the only method of fevering them is by fome edged tool. Though they extend them- 

 felves nearly horizontally, yet the trunk and principal branches increafe both in height 

 and thicknefs. Its leaves are very fmall, in proportion to the branches, not being 

 above an inch and a half or two inches in length, oval, thick, and of a pale green. 

 The ufual height of the principal Items of the mangrove is eighteen or twenty yards, 

 ten or twelve inches in diameter, and covered with a thin, rough bark. But its wood is 

 fo folid and heavy, that it finks in water, and, when ufed in fhips or veffels, is found 

 very durable, being not fubjeCt either to fplit or rot.* 



The Indians here pay their annual tribute in the wood of the mangrove, which is 

 ufed occafionally in fuch works as its natare is befl: adapted to. 



The lieutenancy of Yaguache is at the mouth of the river of the fame name, which 

 falls into that of Guayaquil on the fouth fide ; and has its rife from the flcirts of the 

 Cordillera, fouth of the river Bamba. Its jurifdidion contains three towns ; the printi- 

 pal, that where the cuftom-houfe is erected, is San Jacinto de Yaguache ; the two others 

 are Noufa and Antonche. To thefe belong two prielts, one refiding at Yaguache, and 

 the other at Noufa. Though thefe towns are but thinly inhabited, the farms and 

 country have great numbers, particularly of the poorer fort. 



The chief produdtion of Yaguache is wood, and a little cacao : but cattle and cotton 

 are the principal objeds of then* attention. 



* The mangrove fhoots out collateral branches, which bend down, take root, and put out others which 

 do the fame, fo that one tree in a few years covers a large fpace of ground. Thofe ftems that are within 

 the reach of high-water mark are generally covered with a fmall kind of oyfter, called Mangrove- oyller'fe, 

 which are eaten .by the natives. The bark of the tree is ufed to tan leather, in which it fucceeds very 

 well, but gives the leather a much higher cclour than ©ak bark, A. 



lo Babahoyo, 



