OVER TRAIL AND THROUGH JUNGLE IN ECUADOR 



341 



SELLING BREAD BAKED IN THE SHAPE OE ANIMALS EOR ALL SAINTS DAY IN LOJA 



Dough is worked up into the shapes of people and animals of the fields to sell for this 

 feast day. While many of these figures require a dutiful imagination and a word or two of 

 explanation to determine the identity of the representation, they appear to be high in popular 

 favor. One might imagine that the dog in the picture had espied a canine friend in dough, 

 but it would, perhaps, be nearer the truth to state that he is doubtless contemplating a bite 

 out of the plump outlines. 



one calls forth all the able-bodied inhabit- 

 ants and furnishes the main topic of con- 

 versation for several days, provided the 

 traveler has the customary type of mule- 

 teer, a talkative one, who will tell all about 

 his patron's errand in the region. 



The people of Ecuador are very re- 

 ligious and most of them are of the 

 Catholic faith. Every little village has at 

 least one church, and the larger towns 

 have many ; so that, even from a distance, 

 the most conspicuous edifices are the 

 churches, for their spires and belfries 

 overtop all other buildings. 



MERCHANTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OE IM- 

 PORTANT FIESTAS 



There are numerous fiestas to be ob- 

 served, because, in addition to the cele- 

 brations ordained by the church at large, 

 there are many local saints and virgins 

 for whom the devout natives are always 

 willing to declare a holiday. 



There are several important fiestas held 

 annually in the interior cities, and mer- 

 chants send wares from a long distance 

 to take advantage of the crowds which 

 flock into town on these occasions. These 

 throngs which gather around the stalls 

 and booths, clad in their gala attire, pre- 

 sent a picture radically different from 

 any to be seen north of Spanish America. 

 Everywhere the eye may rove, it will be 

 arrested by quaint costumes or bright 

 patches of gaudy color. 



The men are resplendent in brilliant 

 new ponchos, the women in shawls, gen- 

 erally blue or green, while, ever shifting 

 and mingling in kaleidoscopic effects, will 

 be seen flaring yellows, deep purples, flam- 

 ing reds, and startling greens. 



This pattern is broken up at frequent 

 intervals, and the crowds scatter when, 

 with a great clattering of hoofs, the gal- 

 lants of the town come riding along the 

 cobble-paved streets, spurring their horses 



