Deposits of copper

lead; iron, and coal also occur, but are not worked. In the — of Cuenea valuable lodes of silver bearing ore are known, but are not exploited. Quicksilver is said to exist in the province of Loja. Careful pros of the mineral resources of cuador would doubtle disclose much natural wealth, but the difficulties and cost of transport have hitherto proved insurmountable obstacles to the pracdevelopment of the mining ind us: ry. The Roman Catholic, under the constitution, is the only form of religion tolerated. The government has made education free and compulsory. Com: mercial and technical schools have been started at Guayaquil and Quito The executive government is vested in a President, elected for four years, who is a isted by a Council of State of five menibers. The Congre is the legislative body, and consists of twe Houses, one formed of Senators, twe for each province, the other of Depu ties, one for every 30,000 inhabitants both elected by universal suffrage. The Congre has extensive privileges anc cannot be di olved by the President The seat of government is at Quito. Ecuador at the time of the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards formed part of the great empire of the Incas, It was erected first into a viceroyalty of Peru, then (from 1564 to 1718) into an independent presidency. In 1718 it became part of the presidency of New Granada. In the revolutionary war against | pein, Ecuador, along with the neighboring territories, secured its independence in 1822, and was ultimately erected into a separate republic in 1831. Of the grommet population, the aboriginal red race forms more than half; the rest are negro and Indian blood, and Spanish Creoles or whites. The latter are the chief po e ors of the land. Pop. 1,271,861. ° Ecumenical Council; a general ecclesiastical council, to which delegates are summoned from all churches holding the same creed,.in all countries in the world.