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South America: Colombia

GOVERNMENT.- Colombia is composed of the nine states of Antioquia, Bolivar, Boyaca, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Panama, Santander, and Tolima; and the form of government established by the constitution of 1863 resembles in many respects that of the United States. The president is elected for two years. The senate consists of three members from each of the states, and the lower house of delegates from the several states, each sending a member for every 50,000 inhabitants. Each state has its own legislative and executive officer. VENEZUELA.

This South American republic, which lies on the N. coast of the continent, extends from lat. 1º 8' to 12° 16' N., and from long. 60° to 73° 17' W. To the N. of it lies the Caribbean Sea; to the E., the Atlantic Ocean and British Guiana; to the S., Brazil; and to the W., the United States of Colombia. Its greatest length from E. to W. is 900 m., and its greatest breadth from N. to S. 770 m. The total area, inclusive of the numerous islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, is 566,159 sq. m. It had a population, by the latest returns, of-1883-2,121,988. Of these, about one per cent. are whites, the greater part of the inhabitants being of mixed Spanish, Indian, and negro blood. There are over 50,000 pure-blooded Indians, most of whom live in the wild and remote interior.

RESOURCES.-The soil is generally of great fertility and bears profusely the staple articles of the tropical and temperate zones. Among the chief products are cacao, coffee, tobacco, sugar-cane, indigo, plantains, wheat, and maize. Large quantities of cacao, hides, tallow, dye, and cabinet woods, and coffee are exported. Mahogany, rosewood, satinwood, and white and black ebony abound in the immense forests of the interor, while the cinchona, india-rubber tree, the sago and cocoa palms, bread fruit, and other trees valuable for their timber, their fruit, and their medicinal qualities grow in profusion. Agriculture and cattle-raising are the chief industries, internal dissentions having interferred with manufactures, which are limited to cheap cotton goods and a few other articles. The total exports were about £3,292,171, in 1886, in value, and the imports £2,498,113. The gold mines of Guayana are still worked, but with this exception but little attention has been paid of late to the vast mineral wealth of the country. Iron is abundant in some of the coast regions, and copper, silver, lead, tin, zinc, quicksilver, antimony, diamonds, and amethysts are found at various points. Asphaltum and petroleum occur along the coast, and coal has been discovered in the N.-W.

GOVERNMENT AND HISTORY.-By the constitution of 1864 Venezuela became a Federal Republic, with a constitution resembling in many respects that of the United States. Executive power is vested in a president elected for four years, and legislative power in a congress composed of a senate and house of representatives deputed by corresponding houses in the individual states, of which there are 21. Municipal government is conducted by the council of each canton. The central judicial power is entrusted to a supreme court. Caracas, the principal city, is the capital. ECUADOR.