1158 PARAGUAY
Area and Papulation.
The approximate area of Paraguay proper, which is situated between the rivers Paraguay and Alto Parana, is estimated at 196,200 square kilometres, or 75,673 square miles. An area officially stated to be 100,000 square miles in extent, lying between the rivers Paraguay and Pilcomayo, known as the Chaco, is claimed by Paraguay, whose rights, however, are disputed by Bolivia. In 1917 the total population was estimated at 1,000,000, not including the Chaco Indians, roughly estimated at 50,000. The population of Paraguay proper consists of people of Guarani Indian, European (chiefly Spanish) and Negro blood, the Guarani largely predominating. Of foreigners in Paraguay, in 1910, there were probablv upwards of 60,000, including 25,000 to 30,000 Argentines, 10,000 to 15,000 Italians, 1,400 Brazilians, 7,000 Spanish, 3,000 German, 800 to 1,000 French, 1,000 Uruguayans, 400 English. On September 30, 1920, the population of the capital, Asuncion (founded 1537), was 99,836 ; other towns are Villarrica, 26, 000 ; Concepcion, 15,000 ; Encarnacion, 12,500; San Pedro, 8,700 : Luque, 15,000 ; Carapegua, 15,000; Paraguarl, 10,000; Villa del Pilar, 10,000. These figures include the surrounding districts in each case, and the figures are estimated.
In 1913 the immigrants assisted by Government numbered 1,512 ; in 1914, 1,116 ; in 1915, 366 ; and in 1916, 298. Very little land is now national property, most of it having been transferred to private ownership, much of it in very large tracts.
In 1916 the number of marriages was 2,526 ; of births, 29,381 (13,256 legitimate, and 16,125 illegitimate) ; of deaths, 8,273.
Religion, Instruction, and Justice.
The Roman Catholic Church is the established religion of the State, but the free exercise of other religions is permitted. Asuncion, Sofifaftu to Buenos Aires, is the only Paraguayan Episcopal See. The law of civil marriage came into force on August, 1, 1899. Roman Catholic and other religious marriage ceremonies are allowed, but. (lie civil ceremony alone validity to a marriage.
Education is free and nominally compulsory, but schools are not every- where available. In 1919 there were 1,268 government primary schools with 78,399 pupils (4-1.137 hoy* and 84.262 gpUJ. Tm num-
bered 1,80S (653 men and 1,155 women). There were also 74 private School*, with 4,021 pupils (2,173 boys ami 1,848 gils). There arc National
- s (/.'■., high schools) at Asuncion, Villarrica, and Pilar. The
aggregate number of students is 710 and of teachers -tii. There is also a University which grants degrees iu law, mediciuo, and social sciences, and certificates to notaries public and practitioners in pharmacy and obstetrics, Number of student* in 1919, 217 ; of professors, 34. There are also 6 normal schools (Asuncion., Villanica, Conception, Bacarnation, Barrero Grande and San Juan Bantista), with 27 male and 195 female students. Beside tributions from general taxes, there is a special (iovernment fund for education consisting of a proportion of the proceeds of land sales, customs dues, &c. A national library, the national archives, and a natural history museum and botanic-zoological garden are under the care of the department of 1'nblie Instruction.
Justice is administered by a Supreme Court, two courts of appeal (one for civil causes and another for commercial and criminal causes), a court of jurymen, 10 judges of First Instance, and (at the capital) 3 police magis- trates. The functions of magistral** are exercised in the pr..\ inces by up wards of 1^0 j " ■■> t dt /"'- (all laymen), who are at the same tioi of births, deaths, and mama
