Guarini
GIOVANNI BATTISTA (gwä-rēnē), an Italian poet; born in Ferrara, Dec. 10, 1537; studied at Pisa, Padua, and Ferrara, and was appointed to a chair at Ferrara. At the age of 30 he accepted service at the court of Ferrara, and was intrusted by Duke Alfonso II. with various diplomatic missions. His chief and most popular work, "The Faithful Swain," passed through 40 editions in the author's lifetime, though it is really an imitation of Tasso's "Aminta." He died in Venice, Oct. 4, 1612.
GUATAVITA (gwä-tä-vē'tä), a village of the republic of Colombia, 20 miles N. E. of Bogotá. Previous to the Spanish conquest it was a town of great importance, and on the banks of the Lake of Guatavita near it are the ruins of many once magnificent and venerated Peruvian temples.
GUATEMALA (gwä-tā-mälä), a republic of Central America, bounded by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, San Salvador, Gulf of Honduras, and the Pacific Ocean; area, 48,290 square miles; pop. about 2,000,000. Number of departments, 22; and capital, Guatemala la Nueva. Pop. 90,000.
Topography. The country is exceedingly mountainous and elevated, the main chain of the continuation of the Andes traversing it S. E. to N. W., and sending off numerous branches. volcanoes, among which are Fuego, Along the main chain are a number of over 12,000 feet high, which sends forth torrents of water, and Tajumulco, 14,- 403 feet high. The country is well watered by numerous streams, none of much importance. There are several lakes, the most important being Dulce, through which a great part of the foreign gn trade of the state is carried on, Amatitlan, Atitlan, and Peten.
Climate and Productions. - 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 to altitude, soil, etc., maize, wheat, rice, GUATEMALA GUATEMALA coffee, cotton, tobacco, sugar, cochineal, and rural schools, and about 60,000 cacao, indigo, vegetables, and tropical fruits in great variety. Fiber plants are numerous, including ramie, henequen, and others. In the altos or mountainous parts of the N. W. considerable flocks of sheep are raised, the wool of which is manufactured into coarse fabrics. There were in 1919 about 1,500 coffee plantations under cultivation, producing about 100,000,000 pounds annually. Over 50 per cent. of the coffee plantations of the country were owned by Germans. The yield of sugar, which is next after coffee, the most important product, is about 45,000 pounds annually. Other important agricultural products are bananas. beans and wheat. The department of Peten is rich in mahogany and dye woods of which there is a considerable trade in the United States. The chicle, or gum industry, also has its center in this province. About 500,000 pounds are obtained annually. Cotton is grown in small quantities. There are deposits of silver, gold, copper, iron, and lead, but these are little developed on account of the lack of transportation.
Commerce. The total imports in 1918 amounted to £1,326,800, and the exports to £2,263,800. The most important imports are cotton, foodstuffs, linen, hemp and jute, paper, iron and steel, and leather. The most important exports are coffee, bananas, sugar, hides, timber, and rubber. The greater part of the trade is with the United States. The exports to the United States for the fiscal year 1920 amounted to $16,347,- 595, and the exports from the United States amounted to $10,309,233. In 1919 600 vessels, with about 700,000 tons, entered the ports of the republic.
Communciations. The Guatemala railway, 195 miles in length; the Guatemala Central railway, 139 miles; the Occidental railway, 51 miles; and the Ocos railway, 22 miles, were incorporated in 1912 as the International Railway of Central America. The main line extends from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City, a distance of about 194 miles, then to San José de Guatemala on the Pacific Ocean, a distance of about 75 miles. A further addition to the railroad was purchased in 1914 and an extension was built in the same year. Additional railway construction was under way in 1920. There are about 5,000 miles of telegraph wire and about 535 miles of telephone wire.
Education. Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 to 14. There are about 2,000 government schools, including primary schools, training schools, night schools, pupils in the elementary schools. The University of Guatemala was established in 1918. The total expenditure for education is about $160,000 annually.
Finance. The revenue in 1919 was $110,937,325, and the expenditure $77,- 666,023. The external debt was about $7,000,000 and the internal debt $135,- 799,843.
Government. The country is governed under a constitution by which the legislative power is vested in a National Assembly, consisting of representatives chosen by universal suffrage for four years, and a council of state of 13 members, partly elected by the National Assembly and partly appointed by the president. The president is elected for a term of six years. There are departments of foreign affairs, government and justice, hacienda and public credit, public construction, fomento, and war. cupied by a race of Indians who had reached a high state of civilization at the time of the early Spanish invaders. tenant of Cortez, and until 1824 was It was conquered by Alvarado, a lieuunder Spanish rule, although independence was declared in 1821. Guatemala was a member of the Central American Confederation from 1824 to 1839, to bring all the Central American reand several times since has attempted publics into cess, until 1897, when she signed a a union , but without suctreaty of union with Costa Rica, and the Greater Republic of Central America, which was, however, soon after dissolved. History. Ancient Guatemala was oc- Manuel Estrada Cabrera was elected president in 1898. During his administration much was done to improve educational and economic conditions. He ward was accused of endeavoring to was re-elected in 1905, but shortly afterbecome dictator and a revolt was organized by General Barillas. This threatened to involve all the Central American countries in war, but by the intervention of President Roosevelt and Diaz an armistice was arranged in 1906 which tween the Central American countries. was later incorporated into a treaty be- Guatemala in 1907 joined in the Central American peace conference which provided for a Central American court of justice. Cabrera was elected for a third term in 1910. Difficulties arose with Great Britain in regard to the debt owed to British citizens by Guatemala, and in 1913 the United States undertook to arrange matters with Great Britain and took over the supervision of the finances of the country. Guatemala broke off GUAYAQUIL diplomatic relations with Germany in April, 1917. The British minister to Guatemala had been active in stirring up plots and intrigues against the United States in all of the Central American States. President Cabrera was re-elected in 1917 for an additional six-year term.
Guatemala City was almost completely destroyed in January, 1918. A treaty of peace was approved by Congress on Oct. 7, 1919. President Cabrera was deposed in a revolution which broke out in April, 1920. Dr. Carlos Herrera became provisional president. Cabrera was accused of being a dictator and endeavoring to use his office for personal ends. He had been in power for 22 years. The new government was recognized by the United States on June 24, 1920. Herrera was chosen permanent president on Aug. 29.
GUAYAQUIL (gwi-ä-kel'), a city and capital of Guayas province, Ecuador; in the valley of the Guayas, 30 miles above its mouth. Most of the houses are built of bamboo or wood and earth, and covered with creepers. The custom house is the most noteworthy of the public buildings, which include a cathedral and a townhall. In 1889 a statue to Bolivar was erected. The leading manufacturing establishments are combined steam sawmills, foundries, and machine shops; and the place is noted for its straw hats and hammocks. Cocoa represents five-sixths of the exports, which include coffee, ivory nuts, rubber, hides and specie. The city has gas lights, street railways, and an improved waterworks system. It was founded by Orellana in 1537, and removed to its present site in 1693. Pop. (1919), 93,851.