URUGUAY 227 the native population is a mixture of Indian, European, and African blood. The character- istics of the lower classes are ignorance, treach- ery, and cruelty ; their occupation as herdsmen, the frequency of civil wars, and the general prejudice against education have prevented the progress of civilization. (See GAUOHO.) The language of the country is Spanish. The num- ber of persons engaged in agricultural pursuits is rapidly increasing. The annual value of wheat and maize alone is more than $3,000,- 000. In 1874 the mills of Montevideo turned out 62,000,000 Ibs. of flour. But the main wealth of the country is in its pasturage. In 1874 the country had 7,254,000 cattle, 1,463,- 000 horses, and 18,476,000 sheep. The wool, which is of superior quality, is almost wholly exported. The manufactures are confined to a few coarse articles for home use. In 1874 the exports were officially given at $15,240,000, and the imports at $16,320,000. With the addition of contraband shipments to avoid the oppressive export duties, it is computed that the total value of the exports would be not less than $25,000,000. The chief articles ex- ported are hides, wool, skins, tallow, and jerked beef. The imports comprise all kinds of manufactured articles, provisions, and coal. Most of the trade is with Great Britain and France, which together take half the exports ; Brazil comes next, and the United States next, taking in 1874 articles to the value of $3,254,- 000. While the trade with other countries is decreasing, with the United States it is grad- ually increasing. The arrivals in 1874 were 1,888 vessels, of 986,827 tons ; cleared, 1,821 vessels, of 954,712 tons. The mercantile ton- nage of the country is almost entirely in small coasters and river steamers. European steam- ers arrive and depart almost daily. There are 176 m. of railway in operation, about 200 m. in course of con- struction, and 600 m. in contemplation. The telegraph lines in oper- ation aggregate 1,300 m. There is telegraph connection with Eu- rope and North Amer- ica by way of Eio de Janeiro, and also by way of Buenos Ayres and Chili. The form of government is in theory republican, sim- ilar to that of the Uni- ted States, but in prac- tice it is a military des- potism alternating with anarchy. The consti- tution provides for the equal rights of all men, prohibits slavery, guar- antees freedom of the press and liberty of conscience, and to for- eign residents the same rights as natives, with exemption from mili- tary service. The pres- ident is elected for four years, but may not be reflected until after a lapse of four years. He appoints four min- isters, viz., of the in- terior, foreign affairs, finance, and war. The legislature consists of a senate of 13 senators, one from each department, elected for six years and presided over by a vice president elected for four years, and a house of deputies of 40 members elected for three years. It is in ses- sion from Feb. 1 to June 15, but a committee of two senators and five deputies sits during the year. The courts comprise a supreme tribunal of five judges, two criminal courts, two civil judges, a tribunal of commerce, and several dis- trict judges for hearing petty cases. The eccle- siastical authorities are a bishop and provisor general of the Roman Catholic church. The municipal boards or juntas have control of the
