ECONOMIC CONDITION OF GUATEMALA. 



239 



local varieties are of exquisite flavour. During the Spanish rule the cacao of 

 West Guatemala and Soconusco was reserved for the Court of Madrid ; now it is 

 no longer exported, though it commands a higher price in the country than tie 

 best varieties exported to Europe. Indigo, formerly raised in the Eetalhuhu 

 district, is also now neglected, but, being a vigorous plant, it continues to grow wi'd 

 and in many places has invaded the sugar and other plantations. Cotton is scarcely 



Fig. 101.— Chief Peoditcts of Guatejiala. 

 Scale 1 : 4,500,000. 



West of Greenwich 



^^)^ /^ 



89° 



60 Miles. 



cultivated, except by the Indians of the hot zone. The competition of foreign 

 importers has also nearly ruined the native weavers. 



Unsuccessful attempts have been made to introduce caoutchouc {castiUoa 

 elastica) into the temperate zone, but it is still collected in the forests, although 

 the wild plant yields an inferior gum. The cocoanut palm has been planted 

 round most of the coast towns and farmsteads, but more for ornament than use. 

 On the other hand, cinchona is extensively cultivated, especially in the Coban 

 district and on the Pacific slope ; as many as 1 ,550,000 trees had already been 

 planted in the year 1884. 



