58 The Andes and the Amazon. 



of a native writer, " The great majority of the people knew 

 nothing of sciences, events, or men. Their religion con- 

 sisted of outward observances, and an imperfect knowledge 

 of the papal bulls ; their morality, in asceticism and devo- 

 tion to their Idng ; their philosophy, in the subtleties of 

 Aristotle ; their history, in the history of the mother coun- 

 try ; their geography, in the maps of Spanish America and 

 of Spain ; their press, in what sufficed to print bill-heads 

 and blank forms ; their commerce, in an insignificant coast- 

 ing trade ; their ambition and highest aspirations, in titles 

 of nobility ; their amusements, in bull-fights. The arrival 

 of a mail was an event of great moment, and with ringing of 

 bells was received the cajon de Espana which announced 

 the health of the sovereigns. Thus, while Europe was pass- 

 ing through the stormy times of Louis XIY. ; while the 

 philosophical writings of the illustrious men of those times 

 found their way into the remotest corners of the globe; 

 while the English colonies of North America conquered 

 their independence ; while the Old World was drenched in 

 blood to propagate the ideas which the French Eevolution 

 had proclaimed, the Presidency of Quito, walled in by its 

 immense Cordilleras and the ocean, and ruled by monkish 

 ignorance and bigotry, knew as little of men and events as 

 we now know of men and events in the moon."* 



From an iron despotism which existed for three centu- 

 ries, Quito passed to a state of unbridled licentiousness. 

 Without any political experience whatever, the people at- 

 tempted to lay the foundation of a new system of govern- 

 ment and society. With head and hearts perverted by 

 monkish superstition and Spanish tyranny, yet set on fire 

 by the French Eevolution, what did they know of liberty ! 



* Geografia de la Repuhlica del Ecuador, por Dr. Villavicencio. This work 

 abounds with erroneous and exaggerated statements, but it,is nevertheless a 

 valuable contribution to Ecuadorian literature. 



