1867, he was married to Grand Duchess Olga (born August 22, 1851), the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Constantine, of Russia, the brother of the late Emperor. Their children are:

THE MINISTRY.-The Ministry is constituted as follows: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Alex Th. Zaimis; Minister of the Interior, M. Nicholas Triantaphylakos; Minister of Worship and Instruction, M. Ant. Momferato; Minister of War and Marine. Colonel George Corpas; Minister of Finance, M. Ph. Negris; Minister of Justice, M. C. Topalls. THE NATION.-Since 1829 Greece has been an independent, constitutional, monarchy. Its independence is protected by Great Britain, France and Russia. The Kingdom of Hellas, as it is correctly styled, includes the three provinces of ponnesus, the three of Thessaly power rests in the one-chambered tives. elected by male ballot to

The principal religion is that Complete religious liberty is guar stitutionally that of the State, heirs must profess it. By special King George I.

Nominally, school attendance of five and twelve years.

The actual revenues for 1901 were 200; public debt (1901) $168,548, 171,424,980 drachmai (about $34, Greece is an agricultural coun over 5,500,000 acres are in culti 3,000,000 are waste land. The portant. The special commerce in exports, $20,417,864.

Northern Greece, the five of Philoand five islands. The legislative body, the Bule, of 207 representaserve four years.

Church.

of the Greek Orthodox
anteed, but this religion is con-
and all succeeding rulers and their
enactment this is not required of
is compulsory between the ages
$13,650,533; expenditures $13.626,-
444, including a paper debt of
284,996).

try. Of its 25,000 square miles, vation; 5,000,000 are pasture and manufactures are few and unim1900 was: Imports, $15,997,213; The first school for higher learning in modern Greece was established by decree in 1837, and was modelled somewhat upon the universities of Germany. Classes met and lectures were heard in what had formerly been a private house, there being no structure suitable for the university to be found in Athens. In 1841 a building was erected and dedicated, and the university has grown slowly since. The attendance is proportionate to the population of the country, owing probably to pov erty and political disturbances. The only purely ecclesiastical institu tion of higher learning in the kingdom is the Rizareian School, an en dowed institution for candidates for priesthood. A collegiate school, the Leonine Lyceum, exists at Athens, for the education of children of Catholic parents of that city. The Arsakeian School for girls, also at Athens, the conservatory of music, the libraries, laboratories and museums, supported by the Government, complete the institutions for higher learning.

not

King of Greece.

The Greek army is based on what resembles a feudal system, the soldier, with the exception of those in the Chasseur branch of service, is a Jack-of-all-trades, and exercises the functions of policeman, fireman and excise officer. The pay of the private is 100 lepta a day, or about 20 cents, of which 25 lepta a day are taken to provide for arms and equipment, 59 go for food and 1 lepta is deducted for the support of the home for aged soldiers. The Chasseur branch, in picturesque starched kilts and short jackets, forms the important arm of the service, and it is due to this branch that the mountains of Greece are practically free of brigands.

According to recent reports in trade journals, the progress of communication within Greece is very marked and promises soon to bring convenience of travel to a level with those of any country in Europe. The first electric street railway in Greece has just been completed in Patras, and the Athens-Piraeus railway is about to be equipped for electric service. All of the apparatus has been supplied by American companies, and the corporation operating the road is the Thomson-Houston Company, of the United States.

Guatemala.

Capital:
NEW GUATEMALA.

Guatemala was discovered by Columbus in 1502, and in 1524 the country became a Spanish dependency, being erected into a captain-generalcy by Charles V. in 1527. Its history during the years of Spanish occupancy is nearly identical with that of other Central American territories, and not until 1821, when the yoke of Spain was thrown off, did the country begin to have a story of its own. In that year it became a part of the Mexican empire under Iturbide, and in 1823 became a part of the Central American Federal Republic. In 1839 the territory of the latter was diminished by the secession of Honduras, and eight years later Guatemala separated from the confederation, becoming an independent republic on March 21, 1847. Up to 1862 Guatemala kept out of the many wars which proved so disastrous to other Spanish-American countries, but shortly after that time its finances were considerably embarrassed and its development retarded by a succession of petty wars. 1870 several towns and villages were visited by an earthquake and several were severely damaged. May, 1871, a revolution broke out against President Cerna, which was terminated by his deposition and the installation of Granados to the executive chair. The new government was soon obliged to exile the archbishop of Guatemala and banish the Jesuits, who were charged with stirring up a new revolution in favor of Cerna. The property of the Jesuits was confiscated, the order being declared extinct. In 1872 an alliance, offensive and defensive, was made with San Salvador, the principal stipulations of which were mutual protection in the event of internal dissensions, the connecting of the two republics by telegraph lines, and the complete interdiction of the Jesuits. The constitution now in force was proclaimed December, 1879, and modified in 1885, 1887 and 1889. By its terms the legislative power is vested in a National Assembly consisting of one member for every 20,000 inhabitants and elected for a term of four years, and a Council

In

In

of State of thirteen members, partly elected by the National Assembly and partly appointed by the President. The executive is vested in a President, elected for a term of six years, and not eligible to re-election for the following period.

The area of Guatemala is estimated at 48,290 square miles, and in 1900 the population was 1,574,340. About 60 per cent are pure Indians, the remainder being half caste, with but very few descendants of Europeans. The Republic is administratively divided into 22 departments.

Almost the whole surface of the Republic is an elevated plateau, which is a continuation of the tableland of Yucatan, intersected by numerous mountains, with deep and extensive valleys. No continuous mountain chain traverses the country, but the depressions of the tableland toward the Pacific coast is so rapid and presents so many steep declivities that when viewed from the sea it looks like an elevated mountain range. The edge of the plain toward the ocean is marked by several volcanoes, some of which are still active. Remarkable among the extinct volcanoes is the Volcan de Agua, so named from a torrent of water which burst from its crater in 1541 and overwhelmed the first city of Guatemala, the ruins of which still exist. All the volcanoes, whether active or extinct, are in a line with those of Nicaragua and Sau Salvador.

Agriculture is the principal industry, and coffee, sugar, corn, bananas, tobacco and cocoa are the leading products. By the national Land Law of 1894 the State lands, except those on the frontiers and seashore, were divided into lots for sale, the maximum allotment permitted to one person being fifteen caballarias, or about 1,687 acres. The price varies from $250 per caballaria (112% acres) to $400 or $500, including costs of surveys, titles, etc. Uncultivated land may be granted gratuitously to immigrants or immigrant companies, to municipalities, villages and schools, or as assistance toward road making. The forest area has an extent of about 526,593 hectares. The soil generally is very fertile, and especially adapted to the growing of coffee. The largest coffee plantations are in the hands of Germans. To encourage rubber cultivation it was provided by decree of January 14, 1899, that for every 20,000 rubber plants four years old planted after the date of the decree the owner should receive 112% acres of national land. On the high tableland there is excellent grazing ground. Gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, manganese, antimony, sulphur, salt, lignite and other minerals exist, but are little worked. In 1897 mining for gold was carried on at the Motaga River, where about $50,000 had been spent in machinery, dwellings, etc. Silver and salt mining are also carried on with profit. The precious metals are found in but small quantities, however.

In regard to the trade conditions of the Republic, a comprehensive resume of the conditions was prepared by Consul-General James C. McNally, at Guatemala City in May, 1902. He said in his report to the Government that the opportunity for the introduction of American goods into Guatemala was never so good as at that time. Shoes and haberdashery are in constant demand, while cotton fabrics, hardware, paints, oils and varnishes have a ready sale. The objection is made to American goods that they are not adequately represented by agents, and the dealers are loath to purchase without knowing the full quality of the articles they are asked to buy. The catalogue or circular system of advertising is of but little value.

The

On the 18th of April, 1902, severe earthquakes destroyed much property in the vicinity of Guatemala City, and caused serious damage to the city itself. Quezaltenango, Antigua and Santa Lucia were among the towns that suffered most, and the loss of life in these three places was estimated at more than 500. The only white person reported killed was Mrs. Clara Kildare, the wife of a photographer at Quezaltenango, volcanoes of Chingo and Santa Maria became active, the latter for the first time since the earliest Spanish settlements. In view of the suffering caused by the destruction of homes and of coffee plantations, an extra session of the Congress of the Republic was called, with a view of taking such measures as the conditions demanded. Several decrees were passed, increasing the import duties on articles of luxury such as could be produced in the Republic, and the duties on building materials, including paints and oils, were removed for a period of five years. The decrees were approved at once by the President.

Roman Catholicism is the prevailing religion in the Republic, but all creeds have complete liberty of worship. The Government does not recognize any creed above another. Education is free and compulsory. Besides the primary and secondary schools, there are several institutes and normal schools, several establishments for professional and special education, and a polytechnic school. The Government also supports a national library.

There are six railroads in the Republic, with a total length of about 342 miles. In 1902 there were several roads projected, and routes for some of them have been surveyed. The longest railway now open to traffic is the Northern Railroad, along the Atlantic coast, and having a length of 159 miles. About 25 miles more of this road has been prepared for rails. The national telegraph system was in a flourishing condition, according to reports by the Secretary of Public Works, made in June, 1902. In the same report it was shown that the earthquakes of April so affected the coffee plantations, to the extent of damaging the warehouses and machinery, that the crop of 1902 was expected to be not more than one-half of the usual output.

The forests of Guatemala furnish an excellent quality of mahogany and cedar, and recently concessions have been given to F. Arturo Ramirez, to cut mahogany and cedar on the public lands within a belt extending five miles on each side of the Northern Railway, to an amount not to exceed 2,500 tons. The concessionaire is to pay into the National Treasury from $3 to $4 a metric ton for all mahogany cut, depending upon the quality of the timber.

The army of Guatemala, the cost of which is about one-tenth of the total public expenditure, consists of about 7,000 officers and men in regular service. The effective army consists of 56,900 men from eighteen to thirty years of age, and the reserve has 30,000 men from thirty to fifty years of age.

In his message to Congress in 1902, the President of the Republic spoke of the benefits to be derived from the recent Convention of Peace and Obligatory Arbitration lately celebrated between the South American Republics, and referred to the opportune visits of the Presidents of Costa Rica and Salvador, to Guatemala. He reported that the Department of Finance was able to pay, in 1901. the sum of 10,000,000 pesos for account of expenses of the Government, and in liquidation of the public debt, and this without having to negotiate new loans or increase the rate of taxation.

There are three banks of issue in the Republic, which are jointly empowered to arrange for the issue of notes to the extent of $6,000,000, to be legal tender to the exclusion of bank notes and coin, even for debts contracted to be paid for in silver.

The President of the Republic is Estrada Cabrera, and the Ministers of State are: Minister of Interior and Justice, Juan J. Argueta; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Juan Barrios; Minister of War, Luis Molina; Minister of Finance, Guillermo Auguirre; Minister of Public Instruction, J. A. Mandujano.

HALL

The Republic of Haiti constitutes about one-third of that island lying southeast of Cuba. sometimes called Haiti and sometimes San Domingo. The other two-thirds of the island is occupied by the Republic under the latter name. The island, materially and geographically, as well as historically, is one of the most remarkable places in the Western Hemisphere. It is situated somewhat less than 1,400 miles directly south of the New England coast, and only a little more distant directly east of the city of Mexico. Cuba is some fifty miles to the northwest, and Porto Rico the same distance to the east, while Jamaica lies about one hundred miles to the southwest. It is placed, as it were, right in the centre of the four great Antilles, of which it is one, and

is next in size after Cuba. Haiti, the Republic, is nearly as large as the country of Belgium. Barely separated by a range of mountains, Haiti and San Domingo are, in language, traditions and social ideas, as dissimilar as France and Spain. Not more than one-tenth of the population of Haiti consists of white foreigners, and the remainder is made up of persons of unmixed African blood, and mulattoes, quadroons and octoroons of varying degrees of color. French is the language spoken, pure among the educated and a patois among the lower classes. For three generations it has been the rule for the well-todo people to send their children to France to be educated, and it is a saying in Paris that the only foreigners who speak French perfectly are those from Haiti and from Russia. It is said that the United States would be preferred as an educational point for the young people of this republic were it not for the prejudice here against black complexions. The patois of the country class is a creole, which almost deserves rank as a separate language, though but a dialect. This is essentially an unwritten language, and its leading characteristic is abbreviation. Little attention is paid to distinctions of gender, number and case; plurality is indicated by a particle only when it is, absolutely necessary, and the feminine adjective seems to be preferred. All classes speak this language, it being necessary for the carrying on of business.

Haiti was the sixth point of land discovered in the New World in 1492 by Columbus, and was named by him Hispanola. Historians have made an estimate that the island contained about 1,000,000 inhabitants at that time. Here was founded the first Spanish colony in the Western Hemisphere. The discovery of gold filled the country with greedy adventurers, who drove the natives to work in the mines and till the soil, in spite of protest, revolt and resistance. Spaniards liked to compare this land with the splendors of Andalusia, and the colony became the commercial emporium of the New World. But it was found that under the cruel exactions of the Spaniards the aborigines decreased in numbers, and there were no more than 60,000 left after fifteen years of Spanish occupancy. Natives from the surrounding islands were decoyed from their homes and made to work in the mines, but they were not found to suffice, and in 1502 Africans were purchased from the Portuguese for servitude in the colony. When the yield of the gold fields began to diminish there was a rush of the colonists to Mexico and Peru, and their black slaves were taken with them. This ended the glory of Spanish occupation.

In 1795

The English and Frerch, united against Spain in 1520, formed coincidently bases of operations on the Island of St. Christopher. Their garrisons were attacked by the Spaniards, and the French who escaped went to the Island of Tortuga. Their numbers being increased by others who fled from the Spanish, they began to take possession of the larger island, and in about 1530 French occupation of the country was commenced. They pushed little by little into the interior, cargoes of black slaves were brought, to the number of many thousands annually, and the colony became one of the most favored in the world. Spain, by the treaty of Baie, ceded the whole island to France, but the eastern part went back to the dominion of the former country after the downfall of Napoleon. When the French Revolution broke like a tornado over the world it found the elements in Haiti quite ripe for a similar outburst. There were 30,000 whites, 30,000 mulattoes, free, but smarting under most humiliating social, legal and industrial discriminations. and 50,000 blacks, still slaves. In 1789 the news of the decrees of the National Assembly at Versailles reached Haiti, the whole colony was thrown into excitement, turmoil and finally anarchy, and continued so until the mulattoes carried their point, which was to secure full recognition of their citizenship, and they, together with whites, appealed to the blacks. Then followed a fierce strife, compared with which the French Revolution appeared tame, and the condition of affairs led the commissioners sent by France to restore order to proclaim a general emancipation in 1793. In 1804 the declaration of Hatien independence was proclaimed. During the first eighty-eight years of the Republic's life she has had seventeen chiefs of State. Of these Toussaint L'Ouverture died a prisoner in France; Dessalines was assassinated; Christophe committed suicide; Petion died in office; Boyer and his successor, Riviere, were overthrown by violence and died in exile; Guerrier and Riche, like Petion, died in office; Soulouque was overthrown with violence; Geffard was driven to exile: Salnave was driven out by a revolution and shot by order of his successor: Saget retired at the end of his term and died in his own country; Domingue died in exile; Canal retired voluntarily after a revolution; Salomon died in exile: Legitime was driven out by a revolution. General Tiresias Simon Sam was elected President in 1896.

The Republic of Haiti has an area of about 10,204 English square miles, and by an ecclesiastical enumeration in 1894 the population was found to number about 1,210,625. No enumeration has been made since that time. The religion is nominally Roman Catholic, and it is said that there is probably not a Protestant Church or society made up entirely of native citizens in the Republic. The Protestnat denominations have established churches and are well represented, however, the Constitution providing for their welcome and support. Public elementary instruction is free, the country being divided into fourteen inspectors' districts. The sum allotted to schools is nearly $1,000,000 annually, but the educational system is said to be very imperfect, especially in rural districts. There are 400 national schools, besides private schools, and five public Lycees.

The industries of Haiti are mainly agricultural, and the most important product is coffee of excellent quality, though the export duty is so considerable as to prevent the development of its cultivation. Cocoa is grown extensively, and cotton is exported in increasing quantities. A company was recently formed for the cultivation of tobacco and rum, and other spirits are distilled but not exported. The cattle trade has been checked by heavy duties levied on exports for horses, cattle, goats and sheep. Haiti possesses mineral resources quite undeveloped. Gold, silver, copper, iron, antimony, tin, sulphur, coal, koalin, nickel, gypsum, limestone and porphyry are found abundantly, but not worked to any extent. The coffee plantations cover an area of about 125,500 acres, and in the season of 1899-1900 the exports amounted to 72,122,781 pounds. The export duty is $3.86 2-3 per hundred weight.

The Haitien army, at the beginning of 1902, consisted nominally of 6,828 men, chiefly infantry, and the Republic possessed a flotilla of six small vessels, ranking as third-class cruisers. The newest and best of these vessels was the Crete-a-Pierrot, built in England in 1895, and having a displacement of 940 tons and a speed of 15.5 knots.

Early in May, 1902, General Tiresias Simon Sam, President of the Republic, resigned his office because of the dissatisfaction shown by members of his party. It was claimed that he was working to succeed himself at the expiration of his term, in direct opposition to the Constitution of the Republic, and comments on this rumor led him to tender his resignation. Congress was called to meet May 12, to select a successor, but succeeded only in establishing a provisional government. General Firmin, who desired the office for himself, appealed to the dissatisfied element, and a revolt was begun in June. The rebels met with the full opposition of the regular army of the Provisional Government, and there were numerous engagements throughout the Summer. The gunboat, Crete-a-Pierrot, the best vessel of the Haitien Navy, was seized by the Firminists and used as a blockade vessel at Cape Haitien. Threats to bombard the town brought

On

appeals from the foreign residents, and the United States sent the Machias and the Cincinnati to look out for American interests. The commanders of these vessels reported no effectual blockade of any port. September 2 the Crete-a-Pierrot stopped a vessel of the Hamburg-American packet line and took from her ammunition and guns intended, presumably, for the Provisional Government. In retaliation, Germany ordered the gunboat Panther to find the Firminist vessel and demand her surrender. Without delay the Panther proceeded to the harbor of Gonaves, found the Crete-a-Pierrot, gave her commander five minutes in which to leave her, extended the time to fifteen minutes, and then found that the Haitiens had fired their boat before escaping to shore. Shells from the Panther finished her.

The officers of the Firminists' Government were: President, M. Firmin; Minister of War and Marine, M. Killick; Minister of Finance. M. Bourand; Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Henriquez; Minister of Public Works, M. St. Louis; Minister of Interior, M. Chicoye; Minister of Agriculture, M. Lamour.

Hawaii.

Hawaii, or the Sandwich Islands, is a small group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 2,100 miles west-southwest of San Francisco. The islands were acquired by the United States by an act of Congress of July 7, 1898, and were organized as the Territory of Hawaii by an act of April 30, 1900, with the capital at Honolulu on the Island of Oahu. The islands were discovered by the Spaniards in 1549, and examined by Captain Cook in 1778. During the greater part of the nineteenth century they formed an independent kingdom, whose integrity was recognized by the powers. In 1893, however, the reigning Queen, Liliuokalani, was deposed and a provisional government formed. In 1894 a republic was proclaimed, with a president and a legislature of two houses. For military purposes the islands have been attached to the Department of California. The total area of the islands is 6,640 square miles, and the total population, according to the report of the Governor of the Territory, was 153,727 in 1900. The number of native Hawaiians was 29,834, showing a decrease in this element of population since the last census.

Capital:
HONOLULU.

The manufacturing industries of Hawaii may be divided into two classes, the various small industries maintained to supply local needs and the large industry of sugar manufacture, dependent upon the territorial supply of sugar cane. Sugar mills of the best kind, equipped with modern machinery, have been built in Hawaii, and the increased development of the industry is assured provided the sugar cane supply and the labor supply are kept sufficient.

Before the act of 1900, which made Hawaii a part of the territory of the United States, Chinese and Japanese were brought freely to the islands to work in the sugar fields, and an abundant supply of cheap labor was assured. The act of 1900 applied the United States Immigration laws to the islands, and made it impossible to import alien labor. Americans seem to be unable to stand the severe work of the sugar fields, and the remaining supply of laborers is insufficient to fill the need. The Governor, in his report for 1901 states that "all sugar planta their former value, owing to the and if no relief is forthcoming the low."

When the territorial act for ing formulated in Congress, earn ing a property qualification for the that a general suffrage, placing in power would be prejudicial to islanders were given practically waiians refused to ally themselves publican parties. but formed a At the first election held in the electing Robert W. Wilcox as Dele

At the first session of the Leg very little business was done, ex to devise a dog tax. Most of the lators seemed to be directed propriation bills were even intro an extraordinary session of the expenses of the Territory. In his ized the legislators as having been The "home rule" party sent a removal of Governor Dole, on the powers of his office and had shown bers of the Legislature sent a coun

ernor.

Governor Sanford B. Doie.
Copyright, Purdy, Boston.

tion stocks have fallen far below uncertainty of the labor supply, most disastrous results will folthe government of Hawaii was beest representations were made urgright of suffrage, on the ground the Hawaiians and poorer classes American interests. However, the universal suffrage, and the Hawith either the Democratic or Re"home rule" party of their own. Territory this party was victorious, gate to Congress.

islature. beginning March 1, 1901, cept to formulate county laws and efforts of the "home rule" legisagainst Governor Dole. No apduced, and it was necessary to call body to provide for the running message Governor Dole characterwasteful of both time and money. petition to Congress asking the grounds that he had exceeded the favoritism. The Republican memter petition, endorsing the Govfor the ascertainment and payment which destroyed "Chinatown,' was appropriated for this purpose. Government, to stay, if possible,

An act was passed to provide of all claims caused by the fire Honolulu, in 1900, and $1,500,00 This fire was set by orders of the the spread of the bubonic plague, which threatened to decimate the poorer class of the population. In his report for the year ending June 30, 1901, Henry E. Cooper, acting Governor during the illness of Governor Dole, asked aid of the Federal Government for the authorization of the conversion of all Hawaiian silver coins amounting, as originally issued in 1883, to $1,000,000, into corresponding coins of the United States; to amend the Immigration laws so far as to allow the immigration of a limited number of Chinese laborers, upon condition that they engage in only agricultural pursuits during their residence in the Territory, and that upon ceasing to do so that they return to their own country; to authorize the services in Hawaii of an expert forester to report upon the condition of forests and upon the best methods of conserving and extending them; to authorize the granting of licenses to direct water from lands where it is valuless to arid sections that are otherwise adapted for agricultural purposes. He also asked that Congress authorize the retention by the Territory of a sufficient amount of the receipts of the custom house to pay all judgments awarded by the commission on fire claims.

A spirit tolerant toward holidays is shown in Hawaii, and one would have to be extremely lazy not to be satisfied with the numerous days off furnished by the calendar. Those universally observed on the islands include January 1, New Year's Day; January 17, downfall of the monarchy: February 6, Chinese New Year; February 22, Washington's Birthday; Good Friday; May 30, Decoration Day: June 11, Kamehameha Day: June 14, Admission Day: July 4, American Independence Day: August 12, Flag Raising Anniversary: First Monday in September, Labor Day; third Saturday in September, Regatta Day; November 28, Recognition of Hawaiian Independence; last Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day; December 25, Christmas Day.

Queen Liliuokalani continues to press her claim against the United States for certain crown lands of which she says she was deprived when Hawaiian Independence was declared. She has made several trips to this country in the interests of these claims, the last in 1901 and in the Fall of 1902.

Honduras.

Capital:
TEGUCIGALPA.

The coast of Honduras was discovered by Columbus in 1502, and in 1626 Cortez, at the bead of an army which he brought from Mexico, took possession of the country and founded the towns of Trujillo and Puerto Caballos, now Puerto Cortez. The whole known portion of Central America was shortly proclaimed to belong to Spain, and placed under a government fixed at the present town of Gracias. In 1823 Honduras entered the Central American Federa tion, but in 1839 became an independent republic and took part in the wars and intrigues which followed each other in rapid succession until 1862. Insurrections and civil strife contributed to retard the progress of the Republic in its early history, and especially in 1861, when the clergy preached dissensions against

the government. Guardiola, who was President at the time, thwarted the designs of these preachers, and granted an amnesty to all, not excluding the vicar, who was the chief promoter of the trouble. Guardiola, however, was assassinated shortly after, and was succeeded by Montes. One of the first acts of this new President was to make a treaty of alliance with San Salvador against Guatemala and Nicaragua. His army was defeated at Santa Rosa in Guatemala, and one of his generals, Medina, joined the army of the enemy, overthrew Montes and caused himself to be proclaimed President in 1863. He resigned the government in 1864, and was immediately re-elected, continuing in the Presidency until his deposition in 1872 by Don Celeo Arias. A treaty of peace and amity with Spain was signed March 15, 1866. The country is now governed under a charter proclaimed in October, 1894, and the President, elected in 1899, is General Terencio Sierra. The legislative power is vested in a Congress of Deputies, elected at the ratio of one to every 10,000 inhabitants.

Honduras has an area of about 46,250 square miles, and the population in 1900, exclusive of uncivilized Indians, was estimated at 587,500. The bulk of the inhabitants consists of aboriginal Indians and a sparse population of European-descended people, mainly Spaniards. The capital of the Republic is the ancient town of Tegucigalpa. situated nearly in the centre of the State.

The Roman Catholic is the prevailing religion, but the Constitution guarantees freedom to all creeds, and the State does not contribute to the support of any. Instruction is free and compulsory and is entirely secular. The State supports 784 primary schools and 23 schools for higher instruction. At Tegucigalpa there is a central university with faculties of medicine, science, law and political economy. The annual expenditure for primary instruction is 138,000 silver dollars. Agriculture forms an important industry, and is gradually developing. The chief product is bananas, which are produced in large quantities on the Atlantic coast and are shipped to the United States. Tobacco, sugar, maize and coffee are freely cultivated, and small crops of indigo, rice and wheat are grown. Cattle breeding is carried on extensively and dairy farming on a small scale. The Government offers facilities for the acquisition of land by private persons and companies for agricultural and mining purposes, but labor is scarce. The plaiting of straw hats forms a common local industry.

Honduras excells chiefly in her mineral resources, at present generally undeveloped for lack of capital. Gold, platinum, silver, copper, lead, zinc, antimony and nickel are found in almost every department. Deposits of brown and other coal have also been discovered. There are six principal mining basins under actual development in the Republic. The ore deposits of Agalteca, in the northwestern part of the department of Tegucigalpa, which were declared State property in 1899, are deserving of special mention. These ores. for the most part magnetic, contain up to 69 per cent of metallic iron and are very very pure, containing no phosphorus and only a very small quantity of sulphur, and are suited to the manufacture of steel of superior quality. Limestone in abundance is found near these deposits and water in sufficient quantity to furnish water power. The Government claims that the mining industry offers the best investment to foreign capital, and believes that if, during former years, certain mining companies have ceased to work, it is entirely due to their own bad management. Besides the working ores, opals equal in quality to those of Hungary are found in Erandique, and calcareous formations from limestone to marble are common, while petroleum and asphalt are found in some parts of the territory. The quantity of gold extracted by washings from the river sands amounts annually to about $200,000.

Several excellent public roads have been constructed recently, and the capital is connected with the new port of San Lorenzo by a new macadamized highway. In general, travelling and transportation are accomplished by means of mules and ox-carts. There is a railway from Puerto Cortez to San Pedro Sula, and thence to La Pimienta, a distance of sixty miles. A contract has been let for the construction of a railway from Trujillo to Omoa. In 1899 there were 2,730 miles of telegraph line, and the telephone is now in use in the capital and several other towns. In March, 1902, a convention was ratified between Honduras and France, providing for a reciprocal tariff scale.

In July, 1902, the British Government finally and officially withdrew all claim to any sovereignty over the Bay Islands, and formally acknowledged that they belonged to Honduras. The population of these islands is almost entirely British, coming from Jamaica, and some Americans from the Western States. English is the only language spoken. When the proclamation was made, on July 17, that these people were no longer under the British Colonial Government, but must consider themselves as citizens of the Republic of Honduras, the greatest indignation was aroused. The people claimed that the British Government had deserted them, and from having the widest admiration for King Edward it is said that their respect changed to intense hatred. The Honduras Government issued a proclamation announcing that the people would not be disturbed in the enjoyment of their property nor their religious belief and worship interfered with. These islands were recognized originally as part of Honduras, but for years were no more than an abode for pirates. About sixty years ago people from Jamaica settled part of the country, and the Honduras Government sent a governor, who was expelled by the natives and sent back to the main island tied up in a sack. Having no navy, Honduras was unable to maintain its supremacy. The people established a government of their own, and later the British sent a gunboat and raised the British flag. Honduras has repeatedly protested against British occupation, and her claims have been recognized by the United States. Honduras has been the location of numberless schemes of colonization companies and like organizations. The Government itself has suffered many misfortunes of a financial nature from entering into projects for the rapid increase of her revenues. In 1897 she gave the management of her custom houses to a syndicate of New York capitalists, in order to get rid of a foreign debt of about $15,000,000. This debt was owed in England, where bonds to that amount had been sold for the building of a railroad across Honduras. The railroad was started, under contract with agents, but was never completed, though the Honduras Government paid for five times more than was constructed. When the syndicate was given control of the customs, under agreement to complete the road and make good the railroad bonds, everything went along swimmingly at first. but friction soon developed between the Government and the syndicate, the latter finding that the revenues took a decided drop after it had assumed control of the revenue offices, and accused the Government of being half-hearted in its dealings with smugglers. The Government said that the syndicate was doing nothing toward wiping out the bonds. At the end of the first year the syndicate found itself losing money, and work was stopped on the railroad. The attempted union of Central American Republics prevented Honduras from carrying out her part of the bargain, and in retaliation the syndicate threatened to present large claims against Honduras and to invoke the aid of the United States in settling them. This brought about the signing of a new contract and demands for new concessions, and the matter is still under consideration. Honduras is the home of the exiled Louisiana Lottery.

The Ministers of State are: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. C. Bonilla: Minister of Public Works, F. Altschul; Minister of Justice and Public Instruction, Dr. Juan A. Arias; Minister of Interior, Dr. C. Bonilla; Minister of Finances, D. Fortin; Minister of War, M. Rosales.