Paradox
a tenet or statement contrary to received opinion; an assertion which is contrary to appearance, and seemingly absurd, impossible, or at variance with common sense, but which may, ners. The S. portion is one of the most fertile districts of South America, conwooded, of wide savannas, which afford of hills and gentle richly excellent pasture ground, and of rich alluvial plains, some of them marshy, or with shallow pools of water, but a large proportion are of extraordinary fertility and highly cultivated.
Climate. The climate is temperate, reaching as high as 100° in summer, but in winter being generally 45°.
Production. The meat packing and curing industry has been greatly developed in recent years, and hides, jerked beef, and other animal products are exported in considerable quantities. Yerba maté, or Paraguay tea, a natural product of the forests, is one of the chief PARAGUAY articles of export. There were sent abroad in 1918 3,628,436 kilos of yerba.
Tobacco is one of the principal products, and about 220,000 cwts. are exported an- Tobacco is one of the principal products, bracho extract to the amount of about 25,000 tons annually. The area devoted to sugar, which is used largely for the manufacture of spirits, is about 12,- 000 acres and the sugar production is about 1,700 tons annually. Agriculture is for the most part primitive, but the cultivation of cotton has been een encouraged, but is not yet developed. Iron, manganese, copper, and other mineroccur in various parts of the als country.
Commerce. The total imports in 1918 amounted to £1,030,345, and the exports to £1,234,264. The chief imports are textiles, provisions, hardware, wines, and spirits. The chief exports are hides, yerba, ora canned and preserved beef, and quebracho extract. oranges, tobacco, timber, Transportation. There is a railway from Asunción to Encarnación, a distance of 232 miles. There are also several other lines and roads. There is a national telegraph line with about 2,050 miles of wire. There are three wireless telegraph stations. In 1918, 3,705 vessels entered the port of Asunción, and 3,708 cleared.
Education. Education is free and 307 teachers. There are nominally compulsory. There were in 1918 1,086 primary schools, with 65,612 pupils and 1,607 several private schools, including commercial schools. There are 7 National Colleges with an attendance of about 1,500. There is also a university which has about 250 students.
Finances. The revenue and expenditures amount to about $1,000,000 annually. The external debt in January 1, 1919, amounted to about 37,000,000 paper dollars.
Government.- On Nov. 25, 1870, a new There is a PARAGUAY ción and established Paraguay as a pro- Sebastian Cabot in 1526, but the first being in a great degree colony was settled in 1535 by Pedro de missionaries were sent to the aid of the adventurers, who guay; but for a long time they were al- most entirely unsuccessful, the effect of their preaching being in a great degree marred by the profligate and cruel con- duct of the Spanish adventurers, who vince of the vice-royalty of Peru. In the latter half of the 16th century the Jesuit duct of the Spanish ad first preachers of Christianity in Paraguay; but for a long time they were almost entirely unsuccessful, the effect of their preaching bein home government consented to place in their hands the entire administration, civil as well as religious, of the province; and, in order to guard the natives against the evil influences of the bad extheir hands the entire administration, formed the staple of the early colonial population. In the 17th century the ample of European Christians, gave to the Jesuits the right to exclude all other Europeans from the colony. From this time forward the progress of civiliza- tion as well as of Christianity was rapid. civil as well as religious, of the province; tion as well as of Christianity was rapid. and, in order to guard the natives against the evil influences of the bad example of European Christians, gave to Europeans from the colony. From this the present has existed as a republic the Jesuits the right to exclude all other tants; and the capital itself, 45,000. The inhabitants of the towns consist chiefly of whites, or of half-breeds, speaking time forward the progress of civiliza- In 1811 Paraguay declared itself independent of Spain, and from that time to tants; and the capital itself, 45,000. The sh. The native population of the Spanish. The native population of the The central department, in which the provinces are chiefly Guaranis, speaking the Guarani language. In 1865-1870 capital, Asunción, is situated, contains nearly one-third of the whole inhabiforces of Brazil, the Argentine Confedinhabitants of the towns consist chiefly of whites, or of half-breeds, speaking that struggle lost much territory.
Spanish .
Paraguay was at war with the combined fore forces of Brazil, the Argentine Confed- eration, and Uraguay, and as a result of that struggle lost much territory. of the country during recent years has been the development of agriculture and The significant feature of the history The been the development of agriculture and of the significant feature of the history war in 1911 and 1912, but in the latter year Eduardo Sherer became president and began an epoch of peace. Many reforms were made by administration of the laws and measures were taken to se railways. There have been light cure the prosperity of the people. There litical disturbances. There was a civil was a revolt against his rule in 1915 the laws and measures were taken to se but it was repressed. In the same year constitution was proclaimed. Th Congress composed of a Senate and a House of Deputies. The members of both houses are elected by popular vote inhabitants. The the government signed a treaty with Boat the ratio of one senator for every 12,000 inhabitants, and one representative for every 6,000 inhabita executive authority is vested in a presi- livia providing for the settlement of dent, whose term of office is four years. boundary disputes. Paraguay remained There are five departments in the presi- neutral in the World War until Gerdent's cabinet, viz., Interior, Finance, Justice and Worship, War and Foreign Affairs. By the law of 1919 there are 20 senators and 40 deputies.
History. The history of Paraguay is highly interesting. It was discovered by Vol. VII-Cyc The Assembly on Nov. 13, 1919, approved the League of Nations. Dr. neutral in the World War until Ger- many proclaimed its submarine blockade. It then severed diplomatic relations. Manuel Gondra was inaugurated president on Aug. 15, 1920. PARAGUAY