Reptiles

including serpents, are numerous. The forests yield cinchona bark, caoutchouc, sarsaparilla, vegetable ivory, etc. Very little has been attempted in modern times in the direction of mining industry in Ecuador, In the province of Esmeraldas hydraulic washing. Of gravel beds is being carried on by an American company, and quartz crushing is also in progre at Zuruma, in the province of Oro. The Indians do some washing in the beds of streams and rivers; a small supply of gold is obtained from this souree. The existence of petroleum has been proved in various localities, but nothing has yet been done to develop an industry in this product.