Guatemala

a republic of Central America, bounded by Mexico, Si Honduras, San Salvador, Gulf o on and the Pacific Ocean; area, 48,290 square miles; pop. (1900) 1,647,300; number of © 22; and capital, Guatemala la Neuva. The country is exceedingly mountainous and elevated. Along the main chain are a number of volcanoes among which are Fuego, over 12,000 feet high, and Tajumulco, 14,403 feet high. In October and November, 1902, an extensive region in Guatemala was devastated and many lives destroyed by volcanic eruptions. On the tableland, of which a_considerable portion of the state is formed, the climate is mild; but in more elevated situations the cold is intense. There is much valuable timber. The soil generally is of great fertility, producing, according te altitude, soil, ete., maize, wheat, rice, coffee, cotton, tobacco, sugar, cochineal, cacao, indigo, vegetables, and tropical fruits in great variety. The mineral resources are not much developed, but there are found gold, silver, lead, coal, tale, marble, pumice, and sulphur. The foreign trade is carried on mostly with the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and France. The executive power is vested in a president elected for a term of sixteen years, and ineligible for reélection for the following term. The administration is carried on, under the president, by the heads of six departments, Foreign Affairs, Government and Justice, Hacienda and Public Credit, Public Instruction, Fomento, and War. The legislative authority is vested in a National A embly consisting of one representative for every 20,000 inhabitants, chosen by universal suffrage for four years. The State recognizes no religious creed, all creeds having complete liberty of worship, the Roman Catholics predominating, Education is free and compulsory. Ancient Guatemala was occupied by a race of Indians who had reached a, high state of civilization at the time of the early Spanish invaders. It was conquered by Alvarado, a lieutenant of Cotinm, and until 1824 was under Spanish rule, although independence was declared in 1821. Guatemala was a member of the Central American Confederation from 1824 to 1839, and has long sought to refederate the Central American Republics. It has railroads uniting all the departments, War broke out in 1906 with Salvador and Honduras, but through U. S, intermediation a treaty of peace was signed July 20, 1906. | Guayama, chief town in the district and Department of the same name in Porto Rico; 35 miles 8. of San Juan. The Department is near the E. extremity of the island, with its S. front on the Caribbean Sea, and the town is at the intersection of several improved roads. Pop. town