Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/307

 GTJAXACA or three together in the axils of the upper leaves, about an inch in diameter, white, and with an agreeable odor ; the fruit, usually about an inch in diameter, varies in size and shape ; the prin- cipal cultivated varieties are called maliforme, )ple-shaped, and pyriforme, pear-shaped, from GUAYAQUIL 293 Guava (Psidium Cattleyanum). the form of the fruit. Guavas are bright yel- low, exceedingly fragrant, and filled with a yellowish or reddish seedy pulp, which has an acid-sweet flavor, but is rather disappointing to the taste after the sense of smell has been gratified by its odor. The guava grows abun- dantly in the West Indies, has been acclimated in Algeria and other warm countries, and is Ciivated under glass its ornamental foli- and flowers as well for its fruit. Catt- ^^ 's or the purple guava, P. Cattleyanum, ' ough brought to Eu- from China, is bably a native of uth America; it is uch more hardy than the common guava, and though its claret-col- ored fruits, with a pit- ted rind, are smaller and more acid, it pro- duces them in greater abundance. The wood of the guavas is close- grained, but their prin- cipal value is in their fruit, which is consumed in the fresh state, and large quantities are made into jelly. GUAXACA. See OAJACA. GUAYANA. See GUIANA, and VENEZUELA. GUAYAPE, a river of Honduras, an affluent of the Patuca, in the department of Olancho. This river has been celebrated from the earliest period for its rich gold washings, which are worked by the natives in a rude manner. All the streams in Olancho carry gold in their sands, but none have an equal celebrity in this respect with the Guayape. GUAYAQUIL, a maritime city of the republic of Ecuador, capital of the province of Guayas, 150 m. S. W. of Quito ; pop. about 26,000. It is built on the W. bank of the bay of Guaya- quil, on which it has a front of a mile and a half, and is traversed by four creeks, crossed by three wooden bridges, two of which separate the old town from the new or more modern portion. Many of the streets are tortuous, but a few are regular, cutting each other at right angles, and all are lighted with gas ; most of the houses are of wood, roofed with tiles, and rarely of more than two stories. Por- tals or covered arcades surround every block or square of houses. The principal public buildings are the cathedral and six other churches, the governor's palace, city hall, prison, two hospitals, and barracks. There are two colleges, a naval and a number of com- mon schools, and a new school for females commenced in 1872. An association for mu- tual instruction was organized in the same year. The town has an orphan asylum and several other benevolent institutions. The port, formed by the river and its estuary, is very commo- dious, presents good anchorage for vessels of any draught, and is monthly visited by an average of 17 steamers. In 1870, 125 vessels of all kinds and flags were entered, the aggre- gate tonnage being 55,310. A large number Cathedral of Guayaquil. of ships were formerly built here. There are several factories employing steam power, in- cluding one for artificial ice and a foundery. Provisions are brought each morning in canoes, which literally throng the river, and give it the appearance of another town. The heat is