Com. — Andean Ageicultuke. 75 



only for immediate wants — a dose of medicine, or a hand- 

 ful of potatoes at a time. Nearly all liquids, kerosene as 

 well as wine, are sold by the bottle. 



There was no bank in Quito in 1867, but an attempt has 

 just been made to establish one. The paper money of 

 Guayaquil is often at nine per cent, discount in the capital. 

 The currency is silver adulterated with one third of copper. 

 The smallest coin, the cale, is worth about two and a half 

 cents. Above that are medios (five cents), reals (ten cents), 

 two, four, and eight reals. Eight reals make a soft dollar 

 ($0 SO) ; ten reals, a hard dollar ($1 00). There is no cop- 

 per coin — oranges and loaves of bread are sometimes used 

 to make change ; and nearly all the gold in circulation are 

 New Granada condors and Peruvian onzas. Many of the 

 silver pieces have large holes cut in the centre, so that they 

 resemble rings. Government set the example (and the peo- 

 ple followed) on the plea that it would prevent the export- 

 ation of coin. The plan has succeeded, for it does not pass 

 out of the valley. 



Nearly the only sign of progress is the late introduction 

 of the grape and silk-worm ; and these give so much prom- 

 ise of success that the threadbare nobility have already be- 

 gun to count their coming fortunes. Husbandry is more 

 pastoral than agricultural. Thousands of cattle are raised 

 on the paramos, but almost wholly for beef. " A dislike 

 to milk (observes Humboldt), or at least the absence of its 

 use before the arrival of Europeans, was, generally speak- 

 ing, a feature common to all nations of the New Continent, 

 as likewise to the inhabitants of China." Some cheese 

 (mostly unpressed curd) and a little butter are made, but in 

 the patriarchal style. Only one American churn is in op- 

 eration ; the people insist upon first boiling the milk and 

 then stirring with a spoon. Custom is omnipotent here, 

 and its effects hereditary. Milking is done at any hour of 



