PARAGUAY.

The free intercourse of the little Republic of Paraguay with the world only began in 1845. Before that time, from the date of its settlement in 1536 to that of its independence, declared generally in South America in 1811, the country was dependent upon Spain for its commerce; and after its independence was accorded, rather than won by itself, it was closed against intercourse with all the world, under the rule of dictators who made the whole population their serfs, and imprisoned foreigners who ventured into their monarchy.

Upon the death of Francia, dictator from 1814 until 1840, consuls were elected as rulers, until, in 1845, Lopez was elected President. Though practically a dictator also, he pursued an enlightened policy in which an American, Edward A. Hopkins, assisted very much, and by which the country was opened to commercial and other intercourse, and American capital introduced in considerable amount for the development of important industries. The success of the United States. and Paraguayan Navigation Company was so great, however, that it excited opposition from the Government of Paraguay without securing protection from the United States, and its property was confiscated, its business destroyed, and the lives of its promoters imperiled. Whether a result to some extent or not of this failure, the commerce of the United States with Paraguay is now insufficient to be represented by figures or mention in official reports.

In 1862 President Lopez died and was succeeded by his son, whose course involved the country in 1865 in war with Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and Uruguay, which lasted five years and nearly destroyed the little nation, apparently, as among its results was the destruction of all its industries and most of its personal property, the reduction of its territory, and the death in battle and by privation of more than twothirds of its inhabitants, besides the occupation of its territory until 1876 by Brazil. But other results have been, the succession of a constitutional republican government, the sale of large tracts of Government and private lands which are being opened to development, colonization to some extent, the promotion of education among the people, and of industrial enterprises generally; so that for the first time in its history Paraguay appears in reality to have entered upon and to have made commendable progress in a course beneficial to its entire civilized population, and which makes its development and intercourse harmonious with the advance of the neighboring nations. This brief sketch of

its political history is explanatory of its present industrial condition and consequent unimportance, considering its natural resources, in the current commerce of the world-a situation not likely to remain unchanged, for reasons which will incidentally appear herein.

AREA AND POPULATION.

At the close of the war previously mentioned, in 1870, a survey of Paraguay was made which showed its extent, and to some degree the character of the lands, as follows:

In settling the terms of peace, however, after the fierce Paraguayan war, 1,329 square miles of territory were ceded to Brazil, and what now constitutes the Argentine province of Bermejo, having an extent by map measurement of 30,000 square miles, was given up to that Republic, making a total loss of 31,329 square miles, and leaving as the reduced area of Paraguay 58,671 square miles. Since 1870, however, about 15,625 square miles by map measurement of the "Gran Chaco" country, claimed by the Argentine Republic, have been awarded to Paraguay by the arbitrator, then President Hayes, and the present extent of the country consequently appears to be about 74,296 square miles, an area nearly equal to that of Nebraska. Still, authorities differ as to the extent of the area. The Statesman's Year-Book for 1891 estimates it at 91,970, and the Almanach de Gotha at 97,721 square miles, while United States Consul Baker, long resident at Buenos Ayres, estimates it at "about 10,000 square leagues;" which, if Argentine leagues are meant, of 6,677 English acres to the league, would be 104,328 square miles, or if English leagues, 90,000, the amount under the survey of 1870. Still another authority, Mr. Theodore Child, in his recently published "Spanish-American Republics," makes statements which in figures would place the area at over 150,000 square miles. Considering the derivation of the first estimate of the present area herein given, it appears to be the nearest correct.

Whatever its extent, Paraguay lies in the interior of southern South America, a thousand miles from the sea to its center, with Bolivia and Brazil on the north, the latter on the east also to some extent, and the Argentine Republic extending the rest of the distance around it to the north line. It is separated from all these countries on its eastern,

*Consul Hill, in Consular Reports No. 104, of April, 1889.

Argentine Republic, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay only are treated.

southern, and western lines by the rivers Paraná, Paraguay, and Pilcomayo, which constitute its means of communication, through the La Plata in the Argentine Kepublic, with the Atlantic. Like Bolivia, it is wholly devoid of seacoast.

The population of Paraguay in 1866 was estimated to be from 770,000 to 800,000. In 1876, about five years after the war, a census showed it to be 293,844; but this number appears to have been excessive in view of an admitted increase, and of the detailed figures of the census of 1886. The latter shows the population by departments, as furnished to the Department of State by Consul Hill, to have been as follows:*

1Consul Hill does not state the population of the capital, but gives the departments and the total as above.

The number of males shown in the last census was 100,262, and of females, 139,512, an excess of 16 per cent of the latter, due principally to the loss of males in the war; but not wholly so, according to the church records of births cited by Mr. Child, as showing an excess of female births per year in Asuncion of 4.8 per cent, and in the country districts of 9.28 per cent. "Paraguay,” he states, "is the only country where the women are in the majority." There has been some immigra tion since 1886, and a natural increase in the population, which Consul Hill estimates to be altogether, in 1890, 300.000.† In addition to the civilized population, the Government estimates an Indian population in the Chaco region and another on the eastern frontier to aggregate 100,000.

A very large part of the civilized inhabitants of Paraguay are principally of Guaraní Indian stock, tinctured with the blood of the conquering Spaniards, and sometimes also with that of the Africans once held as slaves. There are a few families that boast of pure Spanish lineage, and about 3,500 Europeans in the country, mostly Germans and Italians. But the body of the people speak only the Guaraní language, which presents a unique obstacle to business or other intercourse with them. Whatever progress is made in this direction must be made through the good offices of the comparatively few Spaniards, who, like *Consular Reports, No. 104, April, 1889.

+ Mr. Child gives a higher estimate, as does the Hand Book of the American Republics, but without indicating reasons or bases.

very many of that race in South America, are proficient in several languages. As it is only forty-six years since the people of Paraguay were permitted to have intercourse with other people, and only twentyone since that intercourse became practically free, and as they are still less in number and in wants that appeal to foreign commerce than most communities, it is not in them that particular interest centers, but in what their country ultimately promises to other peoples, in conjunction with the fertile and accessible greater region of which it forms a part.

GOVERNMENT AND CONDITION.

By the constitution proclaimed on the 25th of November, 1870, Paraguay has theoretically a form of government more like that of the United States than have many of the neighboring republics. The executive power is in the President, who is assisted by a cabinet of five ministers. The President and vice-president are elected for a term of four years, but by the Congress instead of an electoral college, and are afterwards ineligible for two terms. The Congress consists of a senate and house of deputies, members of the senate being elected for six years, one for each 12,000 inhabitants, and of the house for four years, one for each 6,000 inhabitants, all directly by the people. In the Congress is the sole legislative power. The judiciary consists of a supreme court with three judges, and courts of inferior jurisdiction.

For purposes of interior administration the country is divided into departments and districts, which are under chiefs appointed by the President, and have civil justices and boards of commissioners. By this arrangement, similar to that in Peru, Chile, etc., the Government is strongly centralized, and the national administration may interest itself closely with all matters of local concern.

The public revenue for 1889-'90 was officially stated to be 4,124,764 pesos, and the expenditures 4,252,797. As the peso is equivalent in value to 73 cents of United States money, the sums are respectively $3,011,077.72 and $3,104,541.81. The revenue is mostly derived from customs duties, which are levied both upon imports and exports. Considerable has been realized also at times from the sale of the maté plantations or herbales, and other public lands.

The external debt, greatly reduced since the war by an offset of large tracts of Government lands, amounted on the 1st of January, 1890, to 23,521,544 pesos, or $17,170,727.12, "including the consolidated English debt annuity of £844,050,"* or $4.107,569.33. The internal debt is small. Of the few banks, the National, patronized by the Government, had a circulation on the date of May, 1889, of bank notes of the value of $721,978, and its accounts balanced on October 31 at $3,266,006.86. The Commercial showed a business of the year to March 31, 1890, of $1,451,S52.47. The Agricultural Bank, established in 1888 for the accommodation of agriculturists, is not so successful.

* Statesman's Year-Book, 1891.

MENTAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Primary instruction has been compulsory, where practicable, since 1881, and schools are supported by special tax since 1888. There were 138 schools in 1887 with over 15,000 pupils, and in the next year 160 with nearly double the attendance. Commendable progress is being made in this respect, as in most of the Latin-American countries. There are a national college and an academy for girls in Asuncion; a public library, several daily papers, and an illustrated monthly. The estab lished religion is Catholic, but other religions are permitted.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Generally speaking, Paraguay, with southeastern Bolivia, south western Brazil, Uruguay, and a considerable portion of the eastern part of the Argentine Republic, forms the second great interior area characterized by inconsiderable elevation above sea level, by alluvial soil, and by abundant water courses with great navigable extent or possibilities. The region of which it is an intimate part, like that of the much larger one of the Amazon basin, is practically undeveloped, with a population of about three to the square mile, but principally located in and about the cities and towns; yet comparatively small portions of it have been under the control of civilized man for four and a half centuries. Paraguay, as to situation relative to navigable bordering rivers and distance from the sea, has been aptly compared with the State of Illinois.

The eastern side of the country is much higher than the western, and has a chain of high land running southward through it, but nowhere rising much above 2,000 feet. The northern part of this elevated land is a continuation of the southern Brazilian plateau. There is also a mass of elevated land in the west, but in no part of Paraguay are there such distinct mountains as in central Bolivia. The general level of the lowlands of the west, including the Chaco region, is stated by Consul Hill to be from 250 to 300 feet above sea level, and above, to the rounded or level heights of the uplands, is found the present and possible agricultural area. In the southeast there are also esteros, or swamp lands. Mr. Child states, in his work already cited

Paraguay proper is not a mountainous country, but its surface is very undulating and traversed by various hill chains, whose summits do not exceed 500 meters (1,640 feet). The lines of the landscape are always soft and harmonious; there is nothing severe and somber; and the general character of the landscape is charming, and often so pretty and perfectly composed that it suggests the work of a clever scene-painter. With the exception of parts of Peru, Paraguay, from the point of view of scenery, impressed me as the most beautiful and charming country that I saw south of the equator. The interior of Paraguay is still little known to geographers. The northern and eastern parts are covered with immense virgin forests, which present an impenetrable obstacle to travelers. Except in the valley between the towns of Asuncion and Villa Encarnacion, and except certain roads opened across the forests of yerba maté, there are very few means of communication by land. The valley of the Paraná is quite as fertile as that of the Paraguay, but it has been neglected in modern times because it is not easy of access. The Chaco is, so to speak, land