Costa Rica

kos'ta re'ka, the most southerly republic of Central America. It extends from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, and from Panama to Nicaragua. The tenth parallel of north latitude passes very nearly through the geographical center. Area, 22,000 square miles. The coasts are fringed with tropical forests extending inland to an altitude of 3,000 feet. Oaks and chaparral come next. The vegetation of the mountain tops resembles that of the Andes. The highest peaks are volcanic. Eruptions have occurred no later than 1866. The wild animals are those of similar regions in South America-the armadillo, tapir, puma, deer, and numerous monkeys.

The people, about 300,000, are almost entirely of Spanish descent, with a few Indians and negroes. The little republic has a reputation for better schools and less illiteracy than any other country colonized by the Spanish. It threw off the Spanish rule in 1821, and has been independent since 1830.

San Jose, in the interior, is the capital. The government is modeled on that of the United States, though the Congress consists of one house. Gold, iron, copper, silver, petroleum, and coal are found in the mountains. Limon, the Caribbean port, is connected with the interior cities by several railways.

In 1907, 10,000,000 bunches of bananas were shipped to Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, and English ports, as well as $3,000,000 worth of excellent coffee. The merchants of the United States and England sell large amounts of cloth, clothing, drugs, tools, and machinery for the mines and plantations. Paints, oils, flour, wheat, and lard are imported.

The alert reader should keep Costa Rica in mind as a self-respecting, proud, little country, putting forth a determined effort to be intelligent and thrifty.