export, copra. During 1892 many acres were planted with cacao, with a view to export, and the prices obtained in 1898 were good. In 1897, 77 vessels of 81,736 tons (41,527 tons British, 31,729 tons American, and 1,266 tons German), excluding men-of-war and coasting vessels, entered the port of Apia. The mail steamers between Sydney, Auckland, and San Francisco call at Apia each way every four weeks, and the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand send two steamers monthly, one from Sydney and one from Auckland. New Zealand is reached in five days, Sydney in eight.

The Berlin Treaty made the American coinage the standard of exchange in Samoa, but English gold and silver are almost exclusively in circulation at the rate of 4s. to the dollar.

Consul and Deputy Commissioner.—Ernest G. B. Maxse.

Blue Book for Samoa, 1895.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE.

Foreign Office Annual Series. Report on the Trade of Samoa, 1897.
Papers on Samoa, published by the United States Foreign Office.
Report of the Berlin Conference relating to Samoa. London, 1890.

Bastian (Adolf), Einiges aus Samoa und andern Inseln der Südsee. 8. Berlin, 1889.
Churchward (W. B.), My Consulate in Samoa, 8. London, 1887.

Finlay's South Pacific Dictionary.

Stair (J. B.), Old Samoa. London, 1897.

Stevenson (R. L.), A Footnote to History: Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa. 8. London, 1892. Vailima Letters. London, 1895.

Turner (Rev. G.), Nineteen Years in Polynesia. London, 1884. Samoa a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before. 8. London, 1894.

Wallace (A. R.), Australasia.

Williams (Rev. J.), Missionary Enterprise in the South Sea Islands.

SANTO DOMINGO.

(REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE Republic of Santo Domingo, founded in 1844, is governed under a Constitution bearing date November 18, 1844, re-proclaimed, with changes, November 14, 1865 (after a revolution which expelled the troops of Spain, who held possession of the country for the two previous years), and again in 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1887. By the terms of the Constitution the legislative power of the Republic is vested in a National Congress of 22 deputies. members are chosen by direct popular vote, with restricted suffrage, in the ratio of two for each province and two for each district, for the term of two years. But the powers of the National Congress only embrace the general affairs of the Republic.

The

The executive of the Republic is vested in a President chosen by an electoral college for the term of four years. During the past few years, according to the British Consular Reports, the country has been going on prosperously, and become comparatively quiet.

President of the Republic.-General Ulisses Heureaux, 1897-1900.

The administrative affairs of the Republic are in charge of a ministry appointed by the President. The Ministry is composed of the heads of the

departments of the Interior and Police, Finance and Commerce, Justice and Public Instruction, War and Marine, Public Works and Foreign Affairs.

Each province and district is administered by a governor appointed by the President. The various communes, cantons, and sections are presided over by prefects or magistrates appointed by the governors. The communes have municipal corporations elected by the inhabitants.

Area and Population.

The area of Santo Domingo, which embraces the eastern portion of the island of Haiti-the western division forming the Republic of Haiti-is estimated at 18,045 English square miles, with a population in 1888 officially estimated at 610,000 inhabitants, or about 34 to the square mile.

The Republic is divided into six provinces and five maritime districts. The population, unlike that of the neighbouring Haiti, is mainly composed of a mixed race of the original Spanish inhabitants and the aborigines, of mulattoes and of negroes, the latter being less in number; the whites, or European-descended inhabitants, are comparatively numerous, and owing to their influence the Spanish language prevails, though in the towns both French and English are spoken. The capital of Santo Domingo, founded 1494, at the mouth of the river Ozama, has (1892) 14,150 inhabitants; Puerto Plata, the chief port, has 4,500 inhabitants.

Many immigrants have recently arrived from Cuba, and are encouraged to settle on the land.

Religion and Instruction.

The religion of the State is Roman Catholic, other forms of religion being permitted under certain restrictions. There are 54 parishes.

Primary instruction is gratuitous and obligatory, being supported by the communes and by central aid. The public or state schools are primary, superior, technical schools, normal schools, and a professional school with the character of a university. On December 31, 1884, when the last school census was taken, there were 201 municipal schools for primary instruction, with 7,708 pupils. It is estimated that there are now 300 schools with about 10,000 pupils.

There are several literary societies in the capital and other towns; and in the Republic there are published about 40 newspapers.

Justice.

The chief judicial power resides in the Supreme Court of Justice, which consists of a president and 4 justices chosen by Congress, and 1 (ministro fiscal) appointed by the executive—all these appointments being only for the presidential period. The territory of the Republic is divided into 11 judicial districts, each having its own tribunal or court of first instance, and these districts are subdivided into communes, each with a local justice (alcalde), a secretary and bailiff (alguacil).

Finance.

The revenue, derived mainly from customs duties on imports and exports amounted, in 1892, to 652,500 dollars gold; in 1893, 1,115,500 dollars; in 1894, 1,378,450 dollars; in 1895, 1,382,500 dollars; in 1896, 1,545,450 dollars; in 1897, 1,601,294 dollars. The expenditure in 1895 amounted to 1,351,250 dollars gold. In 1897 the foreign debt of the Republic was converted into a new Unified Loan of 4,236,750., consisting of 2,736,7507. in 23 per cent. bonds and 1,500,0007. in 4 per cent. bonds. Both classes of bonds are secured on customs duties and specially assigned

revenues, the collection of which is vested in a Régie, controlled by the Santo Domingo Improvement Company of New York.

Defence.

There is a small army of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, a regiment being stationed in the capital of each province. There are also reserve corps, and universal liability to serve in case of foreign war. The naval force consists

of three small gunboats.

Production and Industry.

Of the total area, about 15,500 square miles is cultivable. Tobacco culture is declining, while the production of coffee, cocoa, and bananas, as well as of cane-sugar, is on the increase; American capital to a considerable amount has recently been invested in banana-growing land, and some attention has recently been given to cattle-raising and dairy produce; the principal industries are connected with agriculture and forestry. Large sugar plantations and factories are in full work in the south and west of the Republic. Iron, gold, copper, coal, salt, and other minerals are found, but there is no mining industry.

Commerce.

The commerce of the Republic is small, owing in part to customs duties of a prohibitory character. The principal articles of export in their order of value are tobacco, coffee, cocoa, sugar, mahogany, logwood, hides, goatskins, and honey.

In 1896 the imports were estimated at the value of 375,0007., and the exports at 557,000. Of the value imported about 45 per cent. came from the United States, 12 per cent. from the Danish West Indies, 11 per cent. from Great Britain and British possessions, 8 per cent. from Spain and Spanish possessions, 7 per cent. from Germany, 7 per cent. from France, and the remainder from Belgium, the Dutch West Indies, Italy, and other countries. Of the exports the most important were sugar, 86,866,240 lbs. ; tobacco, 6,332,148 lbs. ; cocoa, 4,308,820 lbs. ; coffee, 2,437,400 lbs. cane honey, 1,777,120 gallons; divi-divi, 1,304,930 lbs.; mahogany, 264,254 ft.; other woods, 14,740 tons.

sugar

In the Annual Statement of the Board of Trade,' the exports to and imports from Great Britain are added to those of Haiti.

Shipping and Communications.

In 1896, 90 steamers and 53 sailing vessels entered the port of Santo Domingo.

The interior is not well supplied with roads. A railway is completed between Sanchez on the Bay of Samaná and La Vega (62 miles), and is being carried on to Santiago, and another line is contemplated between Barahona and the salt mountain of 'Cerro de Sal.' Total length open, 116 miles.

The Republic entered the Postal Union in 1880. In 1896 there were in the Republic 23 post offices. The inland letters, printed packets, &c., numbered 333,908; and the international 214,092.

The telegraph, in the hands of the Antilles Telegraphic Company, is in operation between Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and Santiago, from Santiago to Monte Cristi, and along the railway from Sanchez to La Vega; total length, over 430 miles. Several other inland lines are in project. The foreign telegraphic system in operation is that of the French Submarine Telegraphic Company.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The National Bank, in return for cash advances made to the government has the privilege of selling government stamped paper and postage stamps, and of collecting 5 per cent. tax on import duties. Its notes circulate freely.

On July 1st, 1894, the silver standard based on the Mexican dollar was abandoned, and the United States gold dollar was adopted as the standard, but no national money has yet (September, 1896) been coined in accordance with this law. To discourage the export of silver, an export duty of three dollars gold per hundred dollars of silver coin has been established. Quintal 4 arrobes = 100 lbs. (of 16 oz)=46 kilograms.

For liquids the arrobe = 32 cuartilles = 25 498 litres = 4'110 gallons.
The metrical system is coming into use.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. OF SANTO DOMINGO IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Consul-General.-Miguel Ventura; appointed July 20, 1876. There are consular representatives at Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN SANTO DOMINGO.

Vice-Consul.-Arthur Tweedy.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Santo

Domingo.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

La République Dominicaine. Par Francisco Alvarez Leal. Paris, 1888.
Foreign Office Reports, Annual Series. London.

Santo Domingo. Bulletin No. 52 of the Bureau of the American Republics. Washington,

1892.

Trade of Haiti and San Domingo with Great Britain, in Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom.' Imp. 4. London.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Abad (Jose Ramon), La República Dominicana, reseña general geográfico-estadística. 8. Santo Domingo, 1889.

Garcia (José Gabriel), Compendio de la historia de Santo Domingo, escrito para el uso de as escuelas de la República Dominicana. Santo Domingo, 1879.

Hazard (Samuel), Santo Domingo, Past and Present; with a Glance at Haiti. 8. 511. London, 1873.

Jordan (Wilhelm), Geschichte der Insel Haiti. 2 vols. 8. Leipzig, 1849.

PP.

Keim (D. B. Randolph), Santo Domingo. Pen Pictures and Leaves of Travel. 12. Philadelphia, 1871.

Merino (Padre), Elementos de geografía física, politica é histórica de la República Doninicana. Santo Domingo, 1889.

Monte y Tejada (Antonio), Historia de Santo Domingo, desde su descubrimiento hasta nuestros dias. Tomo I. (all published). 8. Habana, 1853.

Report of Council of the Corporation of Foreign Bendholders.

London, 1895.

Saint Remi, Vie de Toussaint Louverture.

8. Paris, 1850.

Appendix for 1894.

(KRALJEVINA SRBIYA.)

Reigning Sovereign and Family.

Alexander I., King of Servia, born August 14 (new style), 1876; son of Milan I., King of Servia, born August 22, 1854, the son of Miloš Obrenovič, grandson of Yefrem, half-brother of Prince Miloš. King Milan succeeded to the throne as Prince Milan Obrenovič IV., confirmed by the election of the Servian National Assembly, after the assassination of his uncle, Prince Michail Obrenovič III., June 10, 1868; was proclaimed King March 6, 1882; married October 17, 1875, to Natalie, born 1859, daughter of Colonel Keschko, of the Russian Imperial Army; divorced October 24, 1888. King Milan abdicated March 6, 1889, and proclaimed his son Alexander King of Servia, under a regency until he should attain his majority (18 years). King Alexander, on April 13, 1893, being then in his seventeenth year, took the royal authority into his own hands.

The present ruler of Servia is the fifth of his dynasty, which was founded by Miloš Todorovič Obrenovič, leader of the Servians in the war of insurrection to throw off the yoke of Turkey, which had lasted since 1459. The war lasted from 1815 to 1829, when the Turkish Government was compelled to grant virtual independence to Servia. By the terms of the treaty, signed September 14, 1829, Miloš T. Obrenovič was acknowledged Prince of Servia, and by a subsequent Firman of the Sultan dated August 15, 1830, the dignity was made hereditary in his family.

The independence of Servia from Turkey was established by article 34 of the Treaty of Berlin, signed July 13, 1878, and was solemnly proclaimed by Prince (afterwards King) Milan at his capital, August 22, 1878. The King's civil list amounts to 1,200,000 dinars.

Constitution and Government.

By the Constitution voted by the Great National Assembly January 2, 1889 (December 22, 1888, old style), and signed by the King on the 3rd, the executive power is vested in the King, assisted by a council of eight Ministers, who are, individually and collectively, responsible to the nation. The legis lative authority is exercised by the King, in conjunction with the National Assembly, or Narodna-Skupshtina.' The State Council, or Senate, consists of 16 members, 8 nominated by the King, and 8 chosen by the Assembly; it examines and elaborates the projects of laws, and authorises extraordinary loans for the municipalities. This body is always sitting. The ordinary National Assembly is composed of deputies elected by the people, indirectly and by ballot. Each county can elect one deputy to every 4,500 tax-paying males, but should the surplus be over 3,000, this number is also entitled to a deputy. The voting is by scrutin de liste. Each county must be represented by at least two deputies holding University degrees, and are called the qualified deputies. Every male Servian 21 years of age, paying 15 dinars in direct taxes, is entitled to vote; and every Servian of 30 years, paying 30 dinars in direct taxes, is eligible to the ordinary National Assembly. The ordinary Assembly meets each year on November 1, and elections take place every third