^2 The \^est American Scientist. 



Antilles, for the Salvadorian Republic contains only an area of a 

 little over 7,000 EnoHsh square miles, while the number of in- 

 habitants is nearly 800,000. 



Salvador was always regarded as a very rich country, and 

 before the conquest was called by the natives, "Cuscatlan," or 

 the land of abundance. The country was already at that pe- 

 riod very densely populated, and its inhabitants were warlike and 

 fierce. They defended their independence in such a spirit that 

 it required all the energy of such a man as Pedro Alvarado to 

 conqueror and to bring them under the Spanish dominion. 



Nowadays, though Salvador suffered and suffers still from 

 constant wars and insurrection, the country is fairly prosper- 

 ous, well governed, and the best educated republic of Central 

 America. Agriculture is extensively and successfully practiced, 

 and the export of the products of the country is augmenting every 

 year. 



As I leave the shores of Guatemala and approach those of 

 Salvador I remark the difference between these countries. The 

 coast of Guatemala is low and sandy with the mighty chain of 

 the Andes far in the interior ; that of Salvador is high and rocky 

 and of volcanic origin. There is no sandy beach here, but the 

 hills descend to the waters' edge and form a steep fantastic shore, 

 not barren and wild, but green and covered with a crown of the 

 most exquisite trees and parasitic plants. 



The first harbor I meet on the coast of Salvador is Acajutla. 

 It is a considerable town as the export place of the northwestern 

 part of the republic. It is connected by railway with the city of 

 Sonsonatte, further in the interior, one of the most important 

 places in the republic. 



Acajutla looks half like a city and half like an Indian village. 

 The houses as usual are low, but the streets are paved. But 

 what a pavement! I believe ;hat even the streets of San Fran- 

 cisco have a better pavement than those of Acajutla. It is a tor- 

 ment for the poor barefooted Indians to walk on those streets, 

 and even those who use shoes or boots are very anxious to avoid 

 them. 



The houses of Acajutla, and especially outside of the town 

 proper, form a very curious sight. They are constructed of bam- 

 boo or rather coyoles branches and are protected by enormous 

 and very high fences. But those fences are neither of wood, 

 nor of stone nor wire, but of cactus. The cactus and especially 

 the giant cardon grows here to an enormous size and very 

 rapidly Planted around the house in a short time it will grow 

 to a considerable hight and will form a most magnificent and 

 durable fence. No animal and no snake can force such a form- 

 idable fence and the inmates of the house can rest secure. Some- 

 times the giant cardon reaches the stupendous height of sixty 



