if6 A VOYAGfi to BookIV. 



out and laid on llcins kept for that purpofe, or more 

 generally on vijahua leaves, and left in the air to- dry.- 

 When fully dried, they are put into leather bags^- feht 

 to market, and fold by the carga or load^ which is 

 equal to eighty-one pounds ; but the price is far from 

 fixed^ being fometimes fold for fix or eight rials per 

 carga, though lefs than the charge of gathering ; but 

 the general price is between three and four dollars, 

 and, at the time of the armadas, when the demand is 

 very large, rifes in proportion^ 



This tree produces its fruit twice a year, and in thd 

 fame plenty and goodnefs. The quantity gathered 

 throughout the whole jurifdidion of Guayaquil 

 amounts at lead to 50,000 cargas. 



The cacao trees delight fo excefTively in water, that 

 the ground where they are planted muft be reduced to 

 a mire and if not carefully fupplied with water, they 

 die. They muft alfo be planted in the fhade, or 

 leaft defended from the perpendicular rays of the fun. 

 Accordingly, they are always placed near other larger 

 trees, under the fhelter of which they grow and fiou- 

 rifh. No foil can be better adapted to the nature of 

 thefe trees than that of Guayaquil, as it favours 

 them in both refpefe ; in the former, as confifting 

 v/holly of favannahs or wide plains overiiowed in win-^ 

 ter, and in fummer plentifully watered by canals 1 

 and with regard to the latter, it abounds in other 

 trees, which afford them the requifite fhelter. 



All the care neceffary in the culture of this tree 

 confifts in clearing the ground from the weeds and 

 fnrubs abounding in fo ^vet a foil. And this is fo 

 neceifary, that, if negle61:ed, in a fev/ years thefe ve- 

 getables vv^ll deftroy the cacao plantations, by rob- 

 bing the foil of all its nourifhment. 



The laft lieutenancy to be defcribed, is that of 

 Daulc. The principal town is of the fame name, and 

 wafhed by the river, to which it owes its appellation. 

 It contains many fpacious houfes belonging to the in^ 



habitants 



