MANUFACTURE  OF  BALSAM  OF  PERU. 
149 
leeches,  -which  are  often  sold  in  Sonsonate  at  four  reals  each.  The  Indians 
being  in  constant  communication  with  Sonsonate  are  a  vicious  and  lazy 
race.  As  in  most  of  these  pueblos,  the  wild  animals  commit  great  rava- 
ges among  the  cattle. 
Jicalapa,  situated  on  a  small  plain,  about  three  leagues  from  the  beach, 
intersected  by  deep  gulleys,  (barrancas*),  heavily  wooded,  principally  with 
large  cedars.  The  Indians  are  an  idle  race,  and  only  cultivate  about 
1200  balsam-trees  although  many  more  exist  in  the  dense  woods,  which  re- 
main uncleared.  The  heat  is  very  great,  and  the  climate  most  unhealthy. 
Maize  is  mostly  cultivated,  and  plantains  are  numerous.  The  animals  are 
tigers,  pumas,  warris,  ant-eaters  (two  varieties),  armadilloes  and  large 
black  monkeys,  which  form  a  great  portion  of  Indian  delicacies. 
Teotepeque,  a  small  pueblo,  situated  on  a  beautiful  eminence  sixteen 
leagues  from  Sonsonate  and  one  league  from  the  sea.  The  climate  is  very 
hot,  often  105°  F.  in  the  shade,  but  from  its  elevation  very  healthy. 
The  men  wear  a  scanty  breech  cloth,  and  the  women  only  an  apology  for 
a  petticoat.  They  are  the  most  debased  of  all  the  Indians  of  the  coast, 
plant  a  little  corn  and  live  principally  on  fish  and  every  kind  of  animal, 
including  their  favorite  dish  the  Iguana.  There  are  plenty  of  balsam 
trees  on  the  slopes  of  the  mountains,  but  not  above  300  are  worked. 
They  sell  their  balsam  to  the  neighboring  pueblos  in  exchange  for  mania. 
The  hills  also  produce  sarsaparilla,  and  several  gums,  incense,  etc. 
Comaeagua.- — This  town,  although  producing  a  little  balsam,  does  not 
belong  really  to  the  balsam  coast,  being  nearer  San  Vicente.  There  are 
about  1000  trees,  but  their  cultivation  has  been  nearly  abandoned  for  that 
of  coffee,  the  climate  being  cool  and  appropriate  to  that  plant.  The  bal- 
sam is  sold  in  San  Salvador.  They  have  vanilla,  maize,  wheat,  rice,  pota- 
toes, peaches,  and  a  variety  of  fruit  to  supply  the  market  of  San  Salvador. 
The  inhabitants  are  mostly  Ladinos,  very  steady,  brave,  and  industrious. 
The  dress  of  the  women  changes  here  to  red  and  blue  checkered. 
Jayaque. — This  town,  which  from  records  has  existed  for  260  years,  is 
situated  on  the  fertile  declivity  of  a  mountain  called  La  Cumbre,  a  few 
leagues  from  Izalco,  and  near  the  hot  river  Cachal.  There  are  about  1000 
balsam-trees  under  cultivation.  Sugar,  however,  is  the  principal  branch  of 
industry,  value  this  year  in panela  or  moist  sugar  $4000.  The  forests  abound 
in  fine  woods,  mahogany,  cedar,  rosewood,  fustic  and  laurel,  copalchi  and  a 
few  quina  trees,  with  sarsaparilla.  About  the  year  1780,  this  town,  then 
very  large,  was  nearly  destroyed  by  a  flood  of  liquid  mud,  that  issued  sud- 
denly from  a  small  hill  opposite  ;  a  great  portion  of  the  inhabitants  fled  to 
the  upper  lands,  and  settled  the  present  pueblo  of  Ateos,  on  the  main  road 
to  San  Salvador.  The  whole  of  these  lands  are  volcanic,  and  form  part  of 
the  volcanic  group  of  Santa  Ana  and  Izalco. 
These  are  the  principal  towns  trading  in  balsam,  there  are,  however, 
many  small  villages  and  chacras  or  farms,  having  trees  and  working  them. 
