Guatemala

gwa-te-ma'la, a republic of Central America. Its independence dates from 1847. It extends from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific, and lies adjacent to Mexico. If we except British Honduras, it is the most northerly country of Central America. The area is 48,290 square miles. The population in 1890 was estimated at 1,647,300. About sixty per cent of the inhabitants are Indians. The whites are engaged chiefly in the management of plantations, or in commerce. The chief exports named in order of importance are coffee, rubber, hides, sugar, timber, bananas, and cocoa. Other products are tobacco, molasses, wheat, corn, and beans. At the beginning of the century there were 279 postoffices, 4,000 miles of telegraphs, 280 miles of telephone, and 400 miles of railway. There are over 1,000 different schools with 75,000 pupils. Boats ply to and fro between the Caribbean coast, New Orleans, and Galveston. There is much mineral wealth. Gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, sulphur, salt, and other minerals exist, but the mines are little worked. The interior is mountainous. The larger portions of the country are covered with heavy forests, some of which have never been explored. Gigantic mahogany, ebony, and rosewood trees abound. As may be expected in tropical countries, the birds, insects, and flowers are brilliant. The roads of the interior are mere cart tracks, impassable during the rainy season. The latter begins in May and lasts six months, during which rain falls almost daily in torrents. The capital is La Nueva, a city of 125,000 inhabitants. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: