ble progressive increase of the quantities imported
during recent years, as will be seen from the table appended. These
quantities doubled between 1880 and 1890, and have since more than
doubled again.

TABLE SHOWING THE QUANTITIES OF CACAO CLEARED
FOR HOME CONSUMPTION SINCE 1880.

lbs.
1880 10,556,159
1881 10,897,795
1882 11,996,853
1883 12,868,170
1884 13,976,891
1885 14,595,168
1886 15,165,714
1887 15,873,698
1888 18,227,017
1889 18,464,164
1890 20,224,175
1891 21,599,860
1892 20,797,283
1893 20,874,995
1894 22,441,048
1895 24,484,502
1896 24,523,428
1897 27,852,152
1898 32,087,084
1899 34,013,812
1900 37,829,326
1901 42,353,724
1902 45,643,784

FOOTNOTES:

[18] Not an "Emperor," as reported by his conquerors.

[19] See Appendix III.

[Illustration--Colour Plate: CHART SHOWING THE POSITIONS OF THE
PRINCIPAL COCOA PLANTATIONS OF THE WORLD.]

V. ITS SOURCES AND VARIETIES.

[Illustration--Drawing: SACKS OF CACAO BEANS.]

Guayaquil, in the republic of Ecuador, on the west coast of South
America, produces the largest output in the world. This cacao has a
bold bean and a fine flavour, and is rich in theobromine; it is much
valued on the market, and its strength and character render it
indispensable to the manufacturer.

The neighbouring countries of Columbia and Venezuela, facing the
Caribbean Sea, have for centuries grown cacao of excellent quality.
The _criollo_ (creole) bean is generally used as seed, and for it high
prices are obtained. Owing, however, to the unsettled state of the
republics and their unstable governments, its cultivation has gone
back rather than forward during the past decade. With better
administration and settled peace, great developments might easily be
achieved. The British Royal Mail Steam Packet Company provides a good
fortnightly service to England.

In early times the Jesuit missionaries encouraged the natives to form
small plantations on the borders of the river Orinoco, and Father
Gumilla, in his "History of the Orinoco," says: "I have seen in these
plains forests of wild cacao-trees, laden with bunches of pods,
supplying food to