GUIAQUIL, also denominated by some GUATAQUIL, a city, bay, harbour, and river, in Peru, South America. The city is the second of Spanish origin, being as old as the year 1534. It lies on the west side of the river of the same name, in 2° 12' S. Lat. and 79° 6' W. Long. It is divided into the old and new towns, between which there is a communication by means of a wooden bridge. It is two miles in extent, and defended by two forts. The churches, convents, and houses, are of wood, and it contains about 20,000 inhabitants. This place is noted for a shell-fish no larger than a nut, which produces a beautiful purple dye. The commerce here is very considerable, the productions of the country alone forming the greatest part of it, which consist of timber, salt, horned cattle, mules and colts, pepper, drugs, and fine wool.