COCOA. 



23 



The exports of cocoa from Eq^uador — whicli is the largest producing 

 State — have been as follows : 



Cwts. 



1857 149,624 



1858 202,972 



1859 136,119 



1860 167,155 



1861 213,384 



1862 166,714 



1863 147,722 



1864 122,620 



1865 113,666 



Cwts. 



1866 247,602 



1867 201,278 



1868 



1869 173,092 



1870 234,744 



1871 184,572 



1872 181,973 



1873 251,812 



1874 247,493 



Cocoa besides being cultivated in all the gardens of Moyobamba, 

 the eastern territory of Peru or the Montana, grows spontaneously, 

 and is met with in abundance and of various kinds in the woods of 

 the province. 



Production in Brazil. — The culture of cacao was first begun in Bahia 

 in 1780, plants being brought from Para, where it is indigenous to 

 the districts of Valencia, Camanii, and llheos. Since then the 

 culture has steadily increased, and the quantities exported have been 

 as follows : 



1830 1,788 aiTobas of 32 lbs. 



1840 7,244 



1845 13,332 „ „ . 



1849 20,261 



1855 ■ .. .. 34,764 



1856 7,362 bags. 



1857 7,152 „ 



1858 8,465 „ largest crop for twenty years. 



1860 8,171 „ 



1870 1,215,684 kilogs. 



1873 1,201,642 „ 



The total shipments of cocoa from Brazil were, in arrobas of 32 lbs., 

 as follows : 



1841 139,249 I 1861 .." .. .. 270,974 



1851 262,670 | 1863 313,152 



The exports since are given in kilos, of 2^ lbs. : 



1868 3,884,427 



1869 2,801,970 



1870 2,858,018 



1871 3,181,471 



1872 3,181,471 



The production has diminished in quantity, but increased in value. 

 The quantity exported is subject to great fluctuations owing to the 

 frequent overflows of the river Amazon, which stops the gathering 

 of the fruit. 



The tree is indigenous in Para, being found in great abundance on 

 the banks of the large rivers of that province, and from Para come 

 five-sixths of the exports of Brazil. It is, besides, grown to some 

 extent in Bahia, and in small quantities in Maranhao and in Rio 



