42 The West American Scientist. 
Antilles, for the Salvadorian Republic contains only an area of a 
little over 7,000 English square miles, while the number of in- 
habitants is nearly 800, OOO. 
Salvador was always regarded as a very rich country, and 
before the conquest was called by the natives, ‘“‘Cuscatlan,’’ or 
the land of abundance. The country was already at that pe- 
riod very densely populated, and its inhabitants were warlike and 
fierce. They defended their independence in such a spirit that 
it required all the energy of such a man as Pedro Alvarado to 
conqueror and to bring them under the Spanish dominion. 
Nowadays, though Salvador suffered and suffers still from 
constant wars and insurrection, the country is fairly prosper- 
ous, well governed, and the best educated republic of Central 
America. Agriculture is extensively and successfully practiced, 
and the export of the products of the country is augmenting every 
year. 
As I leave the shores of Guatemala and approgen those of 
Salvador I remark the difference between these countries. The 
coast of Guatemala is low and sandy with the mighty chain of 
the Andes far in the interior; that of Salvador is high and rocky 
and of volcanic origin. There is no sandy beach here, but the. 
hills descend to the waters’ edge and form a steep fantastic shore, 
not barren and wild, but green and covered with a crown of the | 
most exquisite trees and parasitic plants. 
The first harbor I meet on the coast of Salvador is Acajutla. 
It is a considerable town as the export place of the northwestern 
part of the republic. It is connected by railway with the city of 
Sonsonatte, further in the interior, one of the most important 
places in the republic. 
Acajutla looks half like a city and half like an Indian village. 
The houses as usual are low, but the streets are paved. But 
what a pavement! I believe that even the streets of San Fran- 
cisco have a better pavement than those of Acajutla. It is a tor- 
ment for the poor barefooted Indians to walk on those streets, 
and even those who use shoes or boots are very anxious to avoid 
them. 
The houses of Acajutla, and senate outside of the town 
proper, form avery curious sight. They are constructed of bam- 
boo or rather coyoles branches and are protected by enormous 
and very high fences. But those fences are neither of wood, 
nor of stone nor wire, but of cactus. The cactus and especially 
the giant cardon grows here to an enormous size and very 
rapidly. Planted around the house ina short time it will grow 
to aconsiderable hight and will form a most magnificent and 
durable fence. No animal and no snake can force such a form- 
idable fence and the inmates of the house can rest secure. Some- 
times the giant cardon reaches the stupendous height of sixty 
ai aie 
