TOPOGRAPHY 0? SALVADOR 



251 



the seaports. The money derived from this traffic is spent in decorating their 

 churches and feasting their patron saints, all being now at least nominal Catholics, 

 Physically, they differ little from their Guatemalan neighbours, except in their 

 darker complexion, and the much smaller stature of their women. 



Topography. 



Ahuachapam, the first town near the Guatemalan, is perhaps the city of Paza 

 (Pazaco), whence was named the E,io Paza, forming the present political frontier 

 between Guatemala and Salvador. Ahuachapam, with the neighbouring towns of 

 Afiquisaija, CJialchuctpa, and Santa Ana, lies in a marvellously fertile district, on 

 which sugar and coffee are largely grown, but which has often been a battle-field 



Fig. 108. — San Salvador and its Enyieons. 

 Scale 1 : 230,000. 



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•ba^tian 



iguio C 



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 fNi.evaS.SaUador)' 



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6 Miles. 



in the wars between Guatemala and Salvador. It was at Chalchuapa that the 

 dictator, Rufino Barrios, was overthrown in the sanguinary engagement of 1885, 

 which put an end to the hegemony of Guatemala over the other Central American 

 states. 



Sonwnafe, or the "Four Hundred Springs," also lies in a rich, and well- watered 

 plain, which is often illumined at night by the fires of Izalco. Formerly the most 

 important place in west Salvador, Sonsonate has now been eclipsed by Santa Ana, 

 which lies to the north of the volcano of like name on the main route between 

 Salvador and Guatemala. Since the earthquakes by which the capital has been 

 twice destroyed, Santa Ana has become the largest city in the republic ; it is an 

 important agricultural centre, and the neighbouring district of Metapan, on 



