290 COCOA 



CHAP. IX 



demonstrated by the fact that in clearing the forest 

 wild-growing cocoa trees are often met with, some- 

 times in large groups. These trees are quite the same 

 as the cultivated ones, and the fruit is just as good. 

 According to the general opinion in Ecuador, such 

 groups (called " Macigale "or " almagicos ") have been 

 sown by animals monkeys or squirrels ; but Preuss 

 is inclined to think that these trees are really indigenous 

 to Ecuador and that Ecuador is the mother-country of 

 the " Amelonado " variety. 



It does not appear, however, that there is sufficient 

 reason for this opinion. In other countries, where cocoa 

 is cultivated, the trees are found growing wild in the 

 forest, sometimes in great numbers together. This is, 

 for instance, the case in Surinam, and it is said also in 

 Trinidad ; but in these cases at any rate in Surinam 

 there is no doubt that the cocoa is not native but that 

 the seed has been distributed by monkeys. 



Cocoa is grown in five provinces of Ecuador, each 

 of which has its own quality and type of product. 

 They are : 



Los Rios, producing about 25,000 tons per year ; the product is 



known on the market as " Arriba." 

 Guayas, producing about 6000 tons; the product is known as 



"Balao." 

 El Oro, producing about 3500 tons ; the product is called 



" Machala." 

 Manabi, producing about 2000 tons ; the product is known as 



"Manabi" or "Bahia." 

 Esmeraldas, producing about 75 tons ; the product is known as 



" Esmeraldas." 



The province of Los Rios is situated above Guaya- 

 quil, and the cocoa is cultivated along the tributaries of 

 the River Guayas, the Rio de Caracol and its tributary 

 the Rio de Puebloviejo, the Rio Vinces, and the Rio 

 Balzar. These regions are all rather elevated, which 

 gave rise to the name " Arriba/' which means " above." 



The province of Guayas is situated south of the 

 River Guayas, and the cocoa is cultivated along the Rio 



