254 



SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



the vehicles driving about in all directions, the flags waving over its balconies 

 make it the liveliest place on the coast for a distance of over 1,200 miles between 

 Panama and Callao. Despite various disasters, piratical attacks, fires, frequent 

 street fighting during the civil wars, Guayaquil has always rapidly recovered, 

 thanks to its favourable position at the head of the deep inlet penetrating into 

 the interior in the form of a cornucopia curving round to the north, 



Guayaquil represents the old Indian city of Culenta, which, however, was dis- 



Fig. 99.— Guayaquil Estuaey. 

 Scale 1 : 1,800,000. 



Depths 



to5 

 Fathoms. 



h to 10 

 I'dthoms. 



10 to 2Ï 

 Fathoms. 



2.'» Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



placed, and is now indicated only by the remains of Ciiidad Vicj'a ("Old Town"), 

 on the slopes of the northern hills. The Spanish settlement, founded bj^ Belal- 

 cazar in 1Ô35, stood farther south, and was connected with the native town by a 

 causeway 2,300 feet long, carried over the intervening channels and morasses. 

 The harbour, which chiefly exports cacao, the staple product of tropical Ecuador, 



