BOLIVIA

formerly called Upper Pebu, one of the independent republics of South America formed after the Spanish colonies in that continent had definitively won tiieir freedom by the decisive battle of Ayacucho (Dec. 9, 1824), is bounded on the N. by Brazil, on the E. by Brazil and Paraguay, on the s. by La Plata and Chili, and on the w. by Peru and the Pacific. Until lately the boundaries with Chili and Brazil were not definitely fixed; but by the treaty of Aug. 10, 1866, the parallel of lai 24° 8. was settled as the boundary line with Chili, and an arrangement was made with Brazil also by a treaty dated March 27, 1867, which was ratified by both governments in the following year. With regard to the area included in these boundaries, the most diverse estimates have been made. The most usual estimates vary between about 500,000 and 600,000 square miles; but by a computation made in 1869 by Ondarza, it is placed so high as 842,730 square zniles^ It is equally impo ible to give an exact statement of the population of Bolivia. Betums coming down to 1858 showed a population of about 1,800,000 exclusive of 245,000 Indians; but a new census was taken in 1869, and the population is now said to approach 3,000,000. Bolivia is divided into nine departments, viz. Chuquisaca, Potosi, Oruro, Tarija^ Atacama, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Beni, and Cochabamba. The largest town is La Paz, but the executive government has, since 1869, had its seat at the fortified town of Oruro. The other important towns are Chuquisaca or Sucre, Potosi, and Cochabamba. There is no country in the world, perhaps, po e ipg such a variety of soil and climate, of physical aspect and productions, as Bolivia. Nowhere else are to be seen such contrasts of nature, exhibited in close juxtaposition, on so grand a scale. The broadest part of the Andes, where these mountains, encompa ing the great Lake of Titicaca and the Lake of Aullagas, 160 miles further 8., divide into two chains, known as the East and West Cordilleras, lies within the limits of this state in its western portion. This double range of lofty mountains presents to the w. nothing but an abrupt and uniform ridge, while the eastern branch throws off numerous ramifications which extend a long way from the Cordillera, forming numerous valleys which nm nearly from R. to w., and pour their waters, some into the Piloomayo, an affluent of the La Plata, and hundreds of others into the Mamor^, Beni, and other great affluents of the Amazon. These streams are Ukely to be, in course of time, of immense importance to Bolivia in developing her commerce towards the Atlantic. Beyond these spurs of the Eastern Cordillera Bolivia presents a new aspect. The bills cease, and are succeeded by a plain exceeding Great Britain in superficial extent, in which no stone, nor even a pebble, is to be found, and which is annually flooded to such a degree by tlie numerous fine rivers which run through it, that communications by boat are practicable acro it in nearly all directions. This is the country of the Moxos. Beyond this, towards the Paraguay, the plain rises, in general, above the reach of inundation, and rocks and hills of moderate height again make their appearance, lliis is the country of the Clii- The climate of Bolivia is as various as its physical quitos. as|>oct and couf oruiatiun. On the more clevatc<l parts in the K.w. there is froet every night, but the sky always bright and cloudle , and the air dry; while the lower parts of the country are, on the other hand, moister and hotter. The inhabitants distinguish three regions of climate, the Puna, Paramo, and Yungas. The first is elevated and cold, the region of the llama and alpaca. The country round Lake Titicaca comes, for the most part, under this denomination. The second or middle region is temperate and productive, and being now inhabited by Europeim settlers, is filled with European grains and fruits. The third region, that of the valleys, has decidedly hot climate, and is distinguished by a rank vegetation. With all this difference of climate, Bolivia is neverthele unsurpa ed in point of general salubrity. It has but rarely been visited epidemics, and cholera and yellow fever, the two great scourges of the other South American states, are here unknown. The natural wealth and resources o{ Bolivia immense. It has long been famed for its mineral wealth, for the Peru of the old Spaniards which was so famous for the treasures drawn from it was other than the present Bolivia, Upper Peru. The celebrated Potosi was once the richest silver district in the world, and yielded, between 1556 and 1834, £163,000,000. Its average annual yield at present is £450,000, although many of its veins are now hausted. Besides that, Bolivia is capable of producing every product which is known to South America. The vine, formerly forbidden by Spaniards, is now introduced. The warm and well watered valleys supply com and fruit. In the Tungas the chief objects of culture are, among others, coffee (said to be excellent), cocoa, tobacco, maize, and sugar-cane. At the same time the mountains and hill-sides are covered with animals such as the sheep, llama, alpaca, . The Bolivians have been prevented from taking anything like full advantage of their vast natural wealth, by having on the side only a small line of coast (about 100 miles), and that, too, shut off from l^e interior by a range mountains difficult to be cro ed, and by having the Amazon, the natural outlet for their commerce the E., closed against them by the government Brazil. In 1867, however, the latter obstacle was removed. The Empire of Brazil in that year opened the Amazon lUvcr to Peru and Bolivia^, and thus 3000 miles of navigable Bolivian rivers (half of them navigable for steamers drawing 6 feet) have been put in connection with the main river. The only remaining obstacle to this connection, the cataracts and rapids on the Madeira, will be obviated by railway avoiding them, which the Brazilian government has determined to construct. Two-thirds of the population belong to the aboriginal races of the country, and the remainder are Mestizoes, or descendants of the original settlers native women. The indigenous ixiiiabitants of the Bolivian highlands, near Lake Titicaca, are the Aymaras; while to the N. and k. dwell the Quichua, with whom the former were united under the dominion of the Incas. (See Peru.) They speak distinct though cognate languages, and they do not differ much from one another in character and disposition. They are industrious, gentle, and intelligent, and they have great powers of endurance. Bolivian history commences with the year 1825, when the republic was founded. The constitution was drawn up for the new state by General Bolivar, in whose honour the name of the state was changed to Bolivia, and was adopted by Congre in 1826. It established a legislative body composed of three duunbers, with a president elected tor five years. It has since suffered different modifications, in 1826, 631 is 1831, and 1863. The chief of these modifications consists in the reduction of the chambers of the legislative a embly to two, both elected by universal suffrage. But since 1839 Bolivia has been almost continually distracted by a series of internal and external troubles; and can scarcely be said to have had any definite constitution. 276