from east to west is about 360 geographical miles, but the sinuosities of the coast give about 400 miles on the Atlantic and 600 on the Pacific Ocean.

Trade and Industry.

The foreign trade of Colombia is carried on mainly through the two ports of Panama and of Colon, or Aspinwall, and is of considerable importance, owing to the geographical situation of these places, which, united by railway, connect the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean. The transit trade across the Isthmus of Panama in the year 1867 was of the estimated total value of 18,438,3967., divided as follows:-12,592,6377. imported at Panama and exported at Colon, and 5,845,7597. imported at Colon and exported at Panama. The traffic across the isthmus by the Panama Railroad in 1867 comprised 35,076 passengers; gold to the value of 30,366,076 dollars; silver, 14,830,727 dollars; and jewelry, 793,428 dollars. The American mails carried 923,521 lb., and English and French mails, 149,273lb., both items larger than in 1866. Of the treasure forwarded across the isthmus, the amount shipped to Great Britain was of the value of 3,873,1341.

The value of the imports and exports of Colombia, exclusive of the transit trade, averaged one million sterling each in the five years 1863-67. The total imports in the year 1866 amounted to 1,579,4417., and in 1867 to 1,104,4987., while the exports were of the value of 1,354,403l. in 1866, and of 1,098,8517. in 1867.

The value of the exports of Colombia to Great Britain, and of the imports of British home produce into Colombia, in each of the five years 1864-68, was as follows:—

Of the exports of Colombia to Great Britain the most important in 1868 were raw cotton, of the value of 201,3241.; coffee, of the value of 121,7137., and tobacco, of the value of 125,1777. At the head of the articles of British home produce imported into Colombia in 1868 were manufactured cotton goods, of the value of 1,681,656l. In the

year 1867, British vessels to the number of 174, with a tonnage of 124,140 entered, and 162, with a tonnage of 124,996, cleared Colombian ports.

In the summer of 1869 a treaty was concluded between the government of the Republic and that of the United States of America, which gave to the latter the exclusive right to construct an inter-oceanic canal across the Isthmus of Darien, at any point which may be selected by the United States. The Colombian Government cede six miles of land on each side of the canal, and are to receive 10 per cent. of the net income for the first 10 years, and, after the canal is paid for, 25 per cent. of the net profits. The surveys are to be made within two years after the ratification of the treaty, and the canal begun within five years and finished within fifteen years after the ratification, otherwise the charter fails. The charter runs for 100 years. The canal is to be under the control of the United States, and navigation is to be open to all nations in time of peace, but closed to belligerents.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Colombia, and the British equivalents, are:

MONEY.

The Peso, or dollar, of 10 reals: approximate value, 48.

The currency is entirely specie, the gold coins consisting of double condors, of 20 pesos, condors, and half condors, and the silver of pesos, reals, half reals, and quarter reals. There are no copper coins. In foreign mercantile transactions, the French five-franc piece, equal to one pese, is most generally in use.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The weights and measures recognised by the government are French. In custom-house business the kilogramme, equal to 2,205 pounds avoirdupois, is the standard. In ordinary commerce, the arroba, of 25 pounds, the quintal, of 100 pounds, and the carga, of 250 pounds, are generally used. The Colombian libra is equal to 1,102 pounds avoirdupois. As regards measures of length, the English yard is mostly employed, but in liquid measure the French litre is the legal standard.

M M

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Colombia.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

6

Report by Mr. Bunch, H. M.'s Chargé d'Affaires, on the Financial Condition of the United States of Colombia,' dated Bogota, May 11, 1868; in 'Reports of H. M.'s Secretaries of Embassy and Legation.' No. V. 1868. London, 1868.

Reports by Mr. Little, U. S. Consul at Panama, and Mr. Pellet, U. S. Commercial Agent at Sabanilla, on the Shipping, Trade, and Industry of the States of Colombia, dated December 1866 and October 1867; in 'Commercial Relations of the United States with Foreign Nations.' 8. Washington, 1868.

Statistical Tables relating to Foreign Countries. Part XI. fol. London,

1868.

Annual statement of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions. 4. London, 1869.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Hassaurek (F.), Four Years among Spanish Americans. 12. New York

1867.

Marr (N.), Reise nach Centralamerika. 2 vols. 8. Hamburg, 1863. Mosquera (General), Compendio de geografia general politica, fisica y special dos Statos Unidos de Colombia. 8. London, 1866.

Powles (J.), New Granada: its internal resources. 8. London, 1863. Restrepo (S.), Historia de la revolucion de Colombia. 10 vols. 1837.

8. Paris,

Samper (M.), Ensayo sobre las revoluciones politicas y la condicion de las republicas Colombianas. 8. Paris, 1861.

Zeltner (A. de), La Ville et le port de Panama. 8. Paris, 1868.

COSTA RICA

(REPUBLICA DE COSTA RICA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE Republic of Costa Rica, an independent state since the year 1842, is governed by the Charter of January 21, 1847, modified in 1859, 1860, and 1863. By its terms the legislative power is vested in a congress of two chambers, called the Senate and the House of Representatives, the first consisting of 25, and the second of 29 members, elected by the people. The executive authority is in the hands of a President, elected, together with a Vice-President, who acts as chairman of the Senate, for the term of three

years. President of the Republic.-Dr. Jesus Ximénès, elected April, 1863, till 1866; re-elected 1869.

The President is assisted in the exercising of his executive and administrative functions by two ministers, nominated by himself, the first having under his charge the departments of finance, justice, and foreign affairs; and the second, those of the interior, army and navy, and public works.

Revenue, Population, and Trade.

The public revenue of Costa Rica for the year ending April 30, 1868, amounted, according to government returns, to 1,500,785 dollars, or 300,3577., and the expenditure to 1,594,427 dollars, or 318,8857., leaving a deficit of 94,642 dollars, or 18,5287. The following statement gives the details of the receipts and disbursements for the year—

Tobacco monopoly

REVENUE OF 1867-68.

Liquor

403,618 78

5,234 25

14,058 49

10,143 50

38,113 48

13,578 64

94,337 6

253,948 32

6,650 83

M.M. 2.

Costa Rica has a small foreign debt, amounting to 104,500 dollars, or 20,9007., owing to Peru. All the other liabilities of the state, representing a total of nearly 3,000,000 dollars, or 600,000l., are internal. During the years 1867-69, steps were taken for the liquidation of the public debt.

The area of the republic is calculated to embrace 26,040 English square miles, including some disputed territories on the northern frontier. The population, in a government estimate of the year 1860, is returned at 126,750; but in another semi-official statement-in 'Moniteur Universel' of December 17, 1865-given as numbering 120,499 souls. Nearly one-third of the inhabitants are aborigines, or 'Indians,' while another third have sprung from a mixture of races. There are also about one thousand free negroes. The population of European descent, many of them pure Spanish blood, dwell mostly in a small district on the Rio Grande, around and not far off the capital of the republic, the city of San José.

Costa Rica carries on a considerable trade, chiefly with Great Britain. The value of the total imports and exports in the five years 1863-67 amounted to: