Envoy and Minister.-Lord Vivian, K.C.M.G., C.B., formerly Envoy to the Swiss Confederation; Envoy to Denmark 1881-84. Appointed Envoy to Belgium, December 15, 1884.

Secretary.-Martin Le M. H. Gosselin.

There is a Consul-General at Antwerp, and Vice-Consuls at Ghent, Louvain, and Ostend.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning

Belgium.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Almanach Royal Officiel de Belgique, contenant les attributions et le personnel de tous les services publics du royaume. Année 1890. Bruxelles, 1889.

Annuaire statistique de la Belgique. 8. Bruxelles, 1889.

Documents statistiques, publies par le départ. de l'Intérieur, avec le concours de la commission centrale de statistique. Bruxelles, 1857--69.

Moniteur belge. 1888 et 1889.

Budgets provinciaux. Exercice 1890. Bruxelles, 1889.

Budgets des recettes et des dépenses pour l'exercice 1890. Bruxelles, 1889.
Relevé du chiffre officiel de la population en 1888. Bruxelles, 1889.

Rapport triennial sur la situation de l'instruction primaire en Belgique.

Période Trienniale, 1882-84. Bruxelles, 1886.

Treizième

Situation générale du trésor public au 1er Janvier, 1889. Bruxelles, 1889. Expose de la situation du royaume, période 1841-50. 1 vol. Période 1851-60. 3 vols. Période 1861-75. 2 vols. Publié par le Ministre de l'Intérieur. 8. Bruxelles, 1861-85. Statisque de la Belgique. Population. Recensement général (31 Décembre, 1880).

Bruxelles, 1884.

Statistique de la Belgique. Agriculture. Recensement général de 1880. Bruxelles, 1885. Statistique de la Belgique. Industrie. Recensement des principales industries en 1880. Bruxelles, 1887.

Statistique de la Belgique. Aperçu de la situation du royaume dressé en Avril 1889 par les soins de la commission centrale de statistique de Belgique. Bruxelles, 1889. Statistique générale des recettes et dépenses du royaume, 1840-80. Bruxelles, 1885. Tableaux général du commerce avec les pays étrangers, publié par le Ministre des Finances. 4. Bruxelles, 1889.

Compte-rendu des chemins de fer, postes, télégraphes et marine. Bruxelles, 1889.
British Consular and Diplomatic Reports for 1889.

Trade of Belgium with the United Kingdom, in Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries for the year 1887.' Imp. 4. London, 1889.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Barary (Ch. Victor de), Histoire de la révolution belge de 1830. 8. Bruxelles, 1876. Brialmont (A. H.), Situation militaire de la Belgique. Brussels, 1882.

Garcia de la Vega (D. de), Royaume de la Belgique. Brussels, 1883.

Meulemans (Aug.), La Belgique, ses ressources agricoles, industrielles et commerciales. 8. Bruxelles, 1866.

Mossel (H. G.), Histoire de la Belgique. Brussels, 1881.

Nicolaï (E.), Les chemins de fer de l'état en Belgique 1834-84. Etude historique, écono mique et statistique. Bruxelles, 1885.

Poullet (F.), Histoire politique interne de la Belgique. Louvain, 1879.
Reclus (Elisée), Nouvelle géographie universelle.

Paris, 1879.

Tome IV. L'Europe du Nord-Ouest.

BHUTAN.

AN independent State in the Eastern Himalayas, between 26° 45′ and 28° N. latitude, and between 89° and 92° E. longitude, bordered on the northeast and west by Tibet and on the south by British India. Extreme length from east to west 160 miles; extreme breadth 90 miles.

The original inhabitants of Bhutan, the Tephus, were subjugated about two centuries ago by a band of military colonists from Tibet. In 1774 the East India Company concluded a treaty with the ruler of Bhutan, but since then repeated outrages on British subjects committed by the Bhutan hill men have led from time to time to punitive measures, usually ending in the temporary or permanent annexation of various dwars or submontane tracts with passes leading to the hills. In November 1864 the eleven western or Bengal dwars were thus annexed. The Bhutanese at first acquiesced in the annexation, but in January 1865 attacked an English outpost, and it was found necessary to send an expedition into their country. Peace being restored, a treaty was signed (November 1865) by which the rulers of Bhutan receive a subsidy of Rs. 50,000, on condition of their good behaviour. This gives the Indian Government an effective control over them, while the occupation of two strong positions at Buxa and Dewangiri, within a few miles of their frontier, serves as a material guarantee against further aggression.

The government of Bhutan resembles that of Tibet, the chief authority being nominally divided between the Deb Raja, or secular head, on the one hand, and the Dharma Raja, or spiritual head of the State, on the other. Practically, the Deb Raja is a mere instrument in the hands of powerful barons (penlops and jungpens), while the Dharma Raja is only supposed to be concerned with the spiritual welfare of his people. In theory the Deb Raja is elected by the penlops and jungpens, but he is usually the nominee of the most powerful chieftain for the time being. The Dharma Raja is supposed to be the incarnation of his predecessor, and is chosen in infancy. The most powerful chieftains of Bhutan are the penlops of Tongsa, Paro, and Taka, and the jongpens of Thimbu, Punakha, and Angduphorang.

Area about 16,800 square miles; population about 20,000 in 1864, but now much larger.

The chief towns of Bhutan are Punakha, the capital, a place of great natural strength; Tashichhu Jong, Paro, Angduphorang, Tongsa, Tarka, and Biaka.

The people are nominally Buddhists, but their religious exercises consist chiefly in the propitiation of evil spirits and the recitation of sentences from the Tibetan Scriptures. Tashichhu Jong, the chief monastery in Bhutan, contains 300 priests.

The military resources of the country are insignificant. Beyond the guards for the defence of the various castles, there is nothing like a standing army. In 1864 it was estimated at 6,000.

The chief productions of Bhutan are rice, Indian corn, millet, two kinds of cloth, musk, ponies, chowries, and silk. Muzzle-loading guns and swords of highly-tempered steel are manufactured.

The trade between British India and Bhutan amounted in 1888-89 to Rs. 153,000 imports from and Rs. 252,000 exports to India. The chief imports are tobacco, European cotton goods, betel-nuts, and rice; the chief exports, wool, musk, ponies, and caoutchouc.

See Report on Explorations in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tibet, 1850-86. Edited by Lieut.-Colonel G. Strahan. Dehra Dum, 1889.

BOLIVIA.

(REPÚBLICA BOLIVIANA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE Constitution of the Republic of Bolivia, drawn up by Simon Bolivar, liberator of the country from the Spanish rule, bears date August 25, 1826; but important modifications of it were added in 1828, 1831, 1863, and 1880. By its provisions the executive power is vested in a President, elected for a term of four years by universal suffrage; while the legislative authority rests with a Congress of two chambers, called the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies, both elected by universal suffrage. There are 66 Deputies, The President is assisted in his executive functions by two Vice-presidents and a ministry, divided into five departments-of Foreign Relations and Colonisation; of Finance; of War; of Justice; and of the Interior.

President of the Republic.-Señor Don Aniceto Arce, nominated President August 1, 1888.

The seat of the government, formerly at the city of La Paz, capital of the Republic, is now at the city of Sucre or Chuquisaca. The supreme political, administrative, and military authority in each department is vested in a prefect; each canton has its correjidor, subordinate to the sub-prefect. The capital of each canton has its municpal council.

Area and Population.

The area of Bolivia was estimated in 1869 at 842,729 English square miles, with a population of close upon two millions. The following table gives, after official returns of 1880-88, the area of each of the existing provinces, with their estimated population (excluding aboriginal Indians):—

As a result of the war with Chile, 1879-80, Bolivia has ceded to that country all her coast territory. The aboriginal or Indian population of

CC

Bolivia is estimated at a million; the mestizos or mixed races at 500,000, and the whites about 500,000. They are all regarded as at least nominally Christian. The present population may be estimated at about 2,300,000.

The population of La Paz is officially given at 56,849; Cochabamba, 19,507; Sucre (the capital), 17,098; Potosi, 11,944; Santa Cruz, 10,288.

Religion, Instruction, and Justice.

The Roman Catholic is the recognised religion of the State; the public exercise of any other form is not permitted.

There are four universities. The following figures are given for 1888:Primary schools 443, with 23,558 pupils; secondary schools and colleges 19, with 2,347 pupils; 743 students of law, medicine, and theology, in the universities.

The judicial power resides in the Supreme Court, the district courts, and in the courts of local justices. The Republic is divided into 7 judicial districts.

Finance.

There have been no official reports of the actual revenue and expenditure of the Republic for several years. In the budget for the financial year 1887-88 the receipts from all sources were calculated at 3,665,790 bolivianos, and the expenditure at 4,599,225 bolivianos.

According to an official Bolivian statement of December 1888, the foreign debt amounted to 6,027,292 dollars, and the internal to 8,736,075 dollars, giving a total of 14,763,367 dollars. Another estimate gives the debt as 6 millions sterling.

Defence.

Bolivia has a standing army of 2,000 men and 1,020 officers. There is also a national guard, in which all citizens are bound to serve. The annual cost of the army amounts to upwards of two-thirds of the total public revenue.

Production and Industry.

Till within the last few years, the vast agricultural and mineral resources of the country were entirely dormant for want of means of communication, but more recently an attempt has been made to construct roads and railways. The silver mines of Potosi alone are estimated to have produced 600 millions sterling from their discovery in 1545 down to 1864. The india-rubber supply of Bolivia is of the finest quality, and almost inexhaustible. Coca is one of the most important products of Bolivia; in 1884-85 the quantity derived was valued at 343,6667. Cinchona is another important culture; a report of the United States Consul referring to 1884-85 estimates the number of trees at 5 millions, and the quantity of bark produced in the year at 200,000 lbs.

Commerce.

The average value of the imports is estimated at 1,200,0007., and exports 1,800,0007. Two-thirds of the exports consist of silver. In 1888 the total Bolivian exports by Buenos Ayres was 5,487,835 Argentine dollars, of which 3,920,494 dollars was for silver and 1,201,226 for gold. The total imports

by Buenos Ayres in that year amounted to 515,588 dollars, of which 248,761 dollars was for textiles. Nearly one-half of the imports are calculated to come from the United Kingdom, mainly through the port of Arica in Peru. Considerable trade is also done with France and Germany. The exports comprise, besides silver, Peruvian bark, india-rubber, gum, cocoa and coffee, and copper, tin, and other ores.

The total value of the merchandise sent to and received direct from Great Britain, in each of the five years 1884 to 1888, according to the Board of Trade Returns, is shown in the subjoined table :

The principal exports of Bolivia to Great Britain are copper ore and regulus, and cubic nitre. In the year 1888 the value of the exports of copper, both ore and regulus, amounted to 49,9487.; and of nitre to 74,5307. The British imports into the Republic consist chiefly of cotton goods, of the value of 3,0087.; of iron, wrought and unwrought, of the value of 51,4247.; machinery, 13,2107.; coals, 7,6427.; carriages, 13,7537., in 1888.

Communications.

Bolivia has no sea-coast. There are several projects for the construction of railways in Bolivia, but at present no railways exist. A railway connects the Chilian port of Antofagasta with the Bolivian frontier at Ascotan, and is being continued to Oruro.

There is a line of telegraph between Chililaga, on Lake Titicaca, La Paz, and Oruro to Sucré, 180 miles; another between the capital and Potosi and the Argentine frontier on the one hand and the Pacific coast on the other. There were 16,127 messages in 1886. Revenue, 9,219 bolivianos; expenditure, 12,339 bolivianos. There passed through the Post Office

1,525,606 letters in 1886.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Bolivia, and the British equivalents, are:

MONEY.

The Boliviano or Dollar, of 100 Centesimos, was struck on the basis of the 5-franc piece; present value (Aug. 1888) about 3s. The gold ounce is nominally equal to 17 silver pesos.

Square Vara

= 0.74

0.927 yard.

0.859 square yard.

gallon.