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The Franc

Money, Weights, and Measures.

Par value 25.22 to £1 sterling.

Belgium belongs to the Latin Monetary Union.
The weights and measures are those of the metric system.

Diplomatic Representatives.

1. OF BELGIUM IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Envoy and Minister. -Count de Lalaing.
Councillor of Legation.-Baron A. Grenier.
First Secretary of Legation.-Paul May.

Second Secretaries.-R. van der Elst and Baron J. de Villenfagne de Sorinnes.

Consul-General in London.-F. H. Lenders.

There are Consular representatives of Belgium in the following towns :Aberdeen, Belfast, Berwick, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Dublin, Dundee, Falmouth, Glasgow, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Queenstown, Sheffield, Southampton, and other places.

2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN BELGIUM.

Envoy and Minister.—Sir E. C. H. Phipps, K. C. M.G., C. B., appointed October 4, 1900.

First Secretary.-Sir B. Boothby, Bart.

Military Attaché.-Lt.-Col. Barnardiston.
Second Secretary.-D. Crackanthorpe.

There is a Consul-General at Antwerp, and Vice-Consuls at Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liège, Ostend, and Spa.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Belgium.

1. OFFICAL PUBLICATIIONS.

Almanach Royal Officiel de Belgique, contenant notamment les attributions et le personnel de tous les services publics du royaume. Annual. Bruxelles.

Annuaire statistique de la Belgique. Bruxelles.

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

Bulletin de la commission centrale de statistique.

Bruxelles.

Projet des Budgets des recettes et des dépenses. Annual. Bruxelles.

Moniteur belge.

Budgets provinciaux. Annual.. Bruxelles..

Rapport triennal sur la situation de l'instruction primaire en Belgique. Bruxelles.
Rapport triennal sur la situation de l'enseignement moyen. Bruxelles.
Rapport triennal sur la situation de l'enseignement supérieur. Bruxelles.
Situation générale du trésor.public au 1er Janvier. Annual. Bruxelles.

Compte

générale de l'Administration des Finances. Annual. Bruxelles.

Exposé 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. Bruxelles.

Statistique du mouvement de la population et de l'état civil. Annual. Brussels. Statistique de la Belgique. Population. Recensement général (31 Décembre, 1900). Bruxelles, 1903. 2 vols.

Statistique de la Belgique. Agriculture. Bruxelles 1898.

Statistique de la Belgique. Aperçu de la situation de 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, 1885-90. Bruxelles, 1895. Tableau général du commerce avec les pays étrangers, publié par le Ministre des Finances. Annual. Bruxelles.

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

Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries, Imp. 8. London.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Allen (Grant), The Cities of Belgium. London, 1897.

Baedeker (K.) Belgium and Holland. 13th ed. Leipzic, 1901.

Balan (L.), Soixante-dix ans d'histoire de Belgique. Bruxelles, 1890.

Banning (E.), La Belgique au Point de Vue militaire et international. Bruxelles, 1901.
Bavary (Ch. Victor de), Histoire de la révolution belge de 1830. 8. Bruxelles, 1876.
Bertrand (L.), Leopold II. et son règne, 1865-90. Bruxelles, 1890, &c.

Black (C. B.), Guide to Belgium, &c. 4th ed. London, 1897.
Boulger (D. C.), History of Belgium. Part I. London, 1902.

Bray (A. J. de), La Belgique et le Marché Asiatique. Bruxelles, 1903.
Brialmont (A. H.), Situation militaire de la Belgique. Brussels, 1882.

Cook (T.), Tourist's Handbook for Belgium, &c. London, 1895.

Deschamps (Le Chevallier), La Constitution international de la Belgique. Bruxelles, 1901. Garcia de la Vega (D. de), Royaume de la Belgique. Brussels, 1883.

Guide Joanne: Belgique et Grand Duché de Luxembourg. Paris, 1894.

Harze (Em.), Statisque des mines, minières, &c., pour l'année, 1895. 8. Bruxelles, 1896. Hubert (L.), Les Catholiques et leur Gestion Financière. Bruxelles, 1902.

Jacquart (C.), Etude de la Demographie, statistique et dynamique, des Agglomerations urbaines, et spécialement des villes belges. Rapport presenté au XIe congrès interna. tional d'hygiène et de démographie. Bruxelles, 1903.

Jourdain (A.) and Stalle (L. von), Dictionnaire encyclopédique de géographie de Belgique. 8. Brussels, 1895, &c.

Lavisse (E.), (Editor). Histoire Générale. Vols. X., XI., XII. Paris, 1898-1900.

Martel (H.), Le Developpement commercial de la Belgique, &c. S. Brussels. Annual. Meulemans (Aug.), La Belgique, ses ressources agricoles, i ndustrielles et commerciales. 8. Bruxelles, 1866.

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

Murray's Handbook for Holland and Belgium. London.

Nicolai (E.), Les chemins de fer de l'état en Belgique 1834-84. Étude historique économique et statistique. Bruxelles, 1885.

Pélichy (Baron C. G.), L'Organisation du Travail dans les Ports Flamands. Bruxelle. 1899.

Pirenne (H.), Geschichte Belgiens. Vol. I. [In Lamprecht's Histories of the Peoples of Europe.] 1899.

Piron (Th.), Des Registres de population, en Belgique. Lierre, 1901.

Poullet (E.), Histoire politique interne de la Belgique. Louvain, 1879.

Prost (E), La Belgique Agricole, Industrielle et Commerciale. Paris and Liège, 1904. Reclus (Elisée), Nouvelle géographie universelle. Tome IV. L'Europe du Nord-Ovest. Paris, 1879.

Report of the British Iron Trade Delegation on the Iron and Steel Industries of Belgium. London. 1896.

Scudamore (C.), Belgium and the Belgians. London, 1901.

Seignobos (C.), Histoire Politique de l'Europe Contemporaine. Paris, 1897. [Eng. Trans. London, 1900.]

Smythe (C.), The Story of Belgium. London, 1900.

Varlez (L.), Rapport général sur la Belgique (for the Paris Exhibition of 1900). Bruxelles, 1900.-Les Salaires dans l'Industrie cotonnière. Ghent, 1901.

Vincent (J. M.), Constitution of Belgium. [Trans. of Text with Notes.] Philadelphia 1898.

BHUTAN.

AN independent State in the Eastern Himálayas, between 26° 45′ and 28° N. latitude, and between 89° and 92° E. longitude, bordered on the north-east 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 Bhután, the Tephús, 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 Bhután, but since then repeated outrages on British subjects committed by the Bhután 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 dwárs were thus annexed. The Bhutiás 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 Bhután 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 Baxa and Diwángirí, within a few miles of their frontier, serves as a material guarantee against further aggression.

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

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

The chief towns of Bhután are Punakhá, the capital, a place of great natural strength; Tásichozong, Páro, Angdaphorang, Togsa, Taka, 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. Tásichozong, the chief monastery in Bhután, 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.

The chief productions of Bhután 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 Bhután amounted in 1903-04 to Rx. 88,290 for imports into and Rx. 20,100 for exports from India. The trade is with Bengal and Assam, which import horses, cattle, fruits, ghi, wax, and

piece goods, and export European and Indian manufactured goods, rice, grain, tobacco, sugar, spices, silk (raw and manufactured), and brass, copper, iron, and other metal goods.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE CONCERNING BHután.

Accounts relating to the Trade by Land of British India with Foreign Countries. Annual. Calcutta.

Report on Explorations in Sikkim, Bhután, and Tibet, 1856-86. Edited by Lieut-Colonel G. Strahan. Dehra Dún, 1889.

Sandberg (G.), Bhotan, the Unknown State. [A Reprint from the Calcutta Review.] Calcutta, 1898.

BOLIVIA.

(REPÚBLICA BOLIVIANA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE Constitution of the Republic of Bolivia bears date October 28, 1880. By its provisions the executive power is vested in a President, elected for a term of four years by direct popular vote, and not eligible for re-election at the termination of his period of office; while the legislative authority rests with a Congress of two chambers, called the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies. the suffrage is possessed by all who can read and write. There are 16 Senators elected for six years, and 69 Deputies elected for four years. Senators and Deputies receive a salary of 300 bolivianos per month during the sittings. There are a President, two Vice-Presidents and a ministry, divided into five departments-of Foreign Relations and Worship; Finance and Industry; Government and Justice; Public Works and Instruction; War and Colonisation. After a period of irregular government, a National Convention of 60 members met at Orouro, October 20, 1899, elected a President of the Republic, resolved that the constitution of 1880, though susceptible of change, was still in force, reorganised the administration, and provided ways and means of government. A regular Congress met at La Paz in August of each year from 1900 to 1904.

President of the Republic.-Señor Ysmael Montes, 1904-1908; elected August 14, 1904.

The supreme political, administrative, and military authority in each department is vested in a prefect. The Republic is divided into 9 departments, 57 provinces, and 595 cantons, administered respectively by prefects, sub-prefects, and corregidores. The capital of each province has its municipal council. The territories in the north-east of the Republic are governed by two officials, called delegados nacionales, in accordance with decree of December 2, 1900.

Area and Population.

The area of Bolivia is estimated at 703,400 English square miles, with an estimated population of 2,181,415. A census was taken on September 1, 1900, the results of which showed a population of 1,816,271, but of this number, 182,661 were not included in the actual enumeration. Of the 1,633,610 persons enumerated, 819,247 were males and 814,363 females. The following table gives the area, the population in 1900, and the estimated population and population per square mile of the Departments and Territories in 1904.

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The Indian population of Bolivia in 1900 was 920,860, or 50 per cent. of the whole the mixed was 486,018, or 26 per cent.; the white was 231,088, or 12 per cent.; the negro, 3,945, or 0.21 per cent.; and the unclassified, 170,936, or 9 per cent. Of the population over 7 years of age, 531,088 were engaged in agriculture; 139,111 in spinning; 119,041 in weaving; 55,521 in commerce; 47,922 in dressmaking; 32,921 in pastoral work; 22,810 were servants; 22,539 were students, &c.; 21,085 bricklayers; 20,570 proprietors; 12,625 miners. The foreign population numbered 7,425, of whom 2,072 were Peruvian.

As a result of the war with Chile, 1879-80, Bolivia mortgaged to that country the Litoral department containing the port of Antofagasta. Bolivia demands a sea-port, and Chile has hitherto refused to grant one, but on June 3, 1903, a treaty was signed for the settlement of the dispute. This treaty was ratified in December, 1904, and it is understood that Chile will grant a sea-port and Bolivia will pay an indemnity. Bolivia has also boundary disputes with Brazil and with Peru respecting the frontiers in the Acré region. For the settlement of the frontier towards Brazil a treaty has been signed whereby Bolivia withdraws its claims in consideration of a payment of 2,000,000l., a sum which it is proposed to expend on railway construction. The dispute between Bolivia and Peru as to the Acré region now lies between Brazil and Peru (see under Brazil).

The population of La Paz is 60,000; Cochabamba. 21,886; Sucre (the capital), 20,900; Santa Cruz, 18,335; Cochabamba, 21,886; Tarija, 6,980; Potosi, 20,910; Oruro, 15,900. The capital has been temporarily changed to La Paz.

Religion, Instruction, and Justice.

The Roman Catholic is the recognised religion of the State; the exercise of other forms of worship is permitted in the settlements. In 1900 the non-Catholic population numbered 24,245. The Church is under an archbishop and 3 bishops.

Primary instruction, free and nominally obligatory, is under the care of the municipalities. Of the population enumerated in 1900 (1,633,610), 1,086,559 persons over 7 years of age had received no elementary instruction. In 1901 the municipalities had 548 primary schools, on which they spent 310,000 bolivianos. There were, besides, private primary schools,

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