Sebastian de Benalcazar, a lieutenant of Pizarro, on December 6, 1534, was the first European to enter the Kingdom of Quito, the seat of government of the Caras Indians. The Spaniards controlled this territory at different times from Lima, Peru, or from Bogota, Colombia, as conditions warranted.

In 1809 the Ecuadorians attempted to throw off the yoke of Spain, but were unsuccessful in establishing their independence from the Mother Country until May 24, 1822, when General Sucre defeated the Spanish forces at Pichincha, as a result of which Ecuador entered a union, fathered by the Great Liberator, Simon Bolivar, and comprising as its other states Colombia and Venezuela. Internal dissension which grew resulted in the dissolution of this trinity of republics, and on August 14, 1830, Ecuador proclaimed herself an independent republic, adopting a constitution similar to those in vogue in Latin America. The executive power is vested in a President and Vice-President, the legislative in a National Congress composed of two houses—a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies.

Ecuador has an area of 116,000 square miles, or about as big as the combined areas of Missouri and Arkansas. The Galapagos Islands, which at one time the United States tried to acquire by purchase for a coaling station, lying 750 miles to the westward, with an area about 2500 square miles, also belong to this country.

Ecuador is wedge-shaped, bounded on the north and east by Colombia, on the south by Peru while the waters of the Pacific lap its western shore line.

The climate is diversified, running all the gamuts of change from tropic, semi-tropic and temperate to cold. The tropical region, as may be surmised, starts at the coast line and continues to the foothills where it gradually changes to semi-tropical at 6000 feet, and to cold in the fertile plateau on which Quito is situated at about 9000 feet. Above this in the mountains it is always much colder. The Equator passes across the northern tip of the country near Quito, while two ranges of the Andes run parallel throughout its length for 520 miles, embracing some of the highest peaks in the system, Chimborazo being 20,498 feet high and Cotopaxi 19,613. The plateau between these ranges averages 65 miles in width and has a mean altitude of 8250 feet.

These mountains form watersheds giving rise to two river systems, flowing respectively toward the sea and toward the interior, which ultimately develop into 91 distinct rivers, only one, the Guayas, on which Guayaquil is situated about 60 miles from where it empties into the sea, being of any great commercial value. The other rivers which are navigable for a short distance are the Daule and the Vinces in the west, while the extension of the Amazon in Ecuador, there called MaraÑon, affords direct communication with Brazil.

A census has never been taken in Ecuador but the population is estimated at 1,500,000. Perhaps 1,200,000 would be nearer the true figure. Seventy-five per cent. are Indians, 200,000 half-breeds, 100,000 white, 2500 negroes, with a floating foreign population of 7500.

There are fewer railways in Ecuador than any other country of South America. One American owned and operated railway running from Duran, on the opposite bank of the river from Guayaquil to Quito, a distance of 285 miles, may be described briefly as the scenic road of the world. There is another road of about 20 miles, and one or two contemplated lines.

Ecuador has been cursed by revolutions, and depressed by the lack of enterprise on the part of its various governments. Guayaquil is perhaps the dirtiest city in the world and at all times a hotbed of filth and disease. For these reasons it has been shunned by tourist and traveler alike, although it is one of the best markets I know of on the West Coast.

The country has no great industries. It is, however, susceptible of enormous developments. It has no agriculture to speak of, but can successfully raise sugar, tobacco, coffee, cotton, cocoa, bananas, wheat, cereals and tropical and temperate fruits. Its forests are rich in cabinet and hard woods. Medicinal trees abound, as well as the tagua nut tree from which the ivory nut comes, and the species of palm which furnishes the fibre for Panama hats. Cocoanuts are plentiful and of an excellent quality. There are minerals in quantities sufficient to pay for the mining, such as coal, sulphur, copper, gold, iron and silver. Oil has recently been discovered. Over most of the land disease lurks and the ambition of the native is dead.

The monetary unit of value is the sucre, named after one of its military heroes; it has a value in American money of 48.7 cents. Ten sucres are the equivalent of a pound sterling and are called a condor, after the Andean bird.

There are a few English houses in business here, but the bulk of the trade is under German control. Many Syrians have come to the country and established themselves as petty merchants.

Cocoa is largely grown in Ecuador, the bean being of a high grade, rich in color and fats. Strange to say, practically none of the chocolate of commerce is made here, the crude dried bean only being exported. In 1912 $7,653,505 of this article alone was exported, chiefly to Europe, despite the fact that we, as a nation, are the largest users of chocolate.

Forty million one hundred and forty-three thousand four hundred and fifty-two pounds of tagua or ivory nuts worth $936,511 were exported in the same time, most of it going to Germany to be made into buttons; one German village has fourteen factories elaborating this product into the finished article of commerce.

Panama hats are made by individuals, collected by jobbers, and exported, this trade in 1912 amounting to $1,372,051.

More than $1,000,000 worth of rubber was exported in 1913, and in the same time coffee to the value of $783,787, most of which went to Chile.

The total exports in 1912 amounted to $13,717,884, as against $10,652,843 imports, the leading articles being boots and shoes, candles, ready made clothes, crockery, drugs, food stuffs (flour and canned goods), hats, hardware, machinery, oils, paper, perfumes, textiles, wines and liquors.

I cannot refrain from repeating that Ecuador, due to the prevalence of disease, is passed over by most travelers and as a consequence there is little competition, and one is sure of doing business here if his product is appropriate.

A small license or fee is one of the legal requirements to sell goods in this country, but is more honored in the breach than the observance.

These towns should be made:

There is but one city in the Galapagos group of islands, namely Floriana. They are unworthy of any attention from a commercial standpoint.

Ecuador is reached most directly from Panama in about three days. Travelers going to Peru or Panama from any of its ports are detained in quarantine and have their baggage disinfected. This rule is strictly observed. Freight should be sent via any line to Colon or Panama for trans-shipment as there are but few direct boats. From San Francisco the Kosmos Line of Hamburg formerly maintained a bi-monthly direct service which may be resumed after the war. The West Coast Line from New York has irregular sailings via the Strait of Magellan, carrying only freight; the voyage takes about three months as the ships drop off cargo en route.