Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/52

 lands were made to pay 5 per cent, of their proper value, not one-half, as in its unwisdom the old Spanish law directed. Lastly was stamped paper, which hrought in considerable sums : the highest class of $7 (f.) was used for patents of administration. As a rule taxation was exceedingly light, and public works were paid for out of the treasury hoards or by the profits derived from Yerba.

A book published in Paraguay by "supreme" dictation, contains the following scale of imports and exports during the ten years of 1851-1860:—

In 1861 the total revenue was estimated at 8 millions of francs, about $4 1⁄2$ millions resulting from the profits on Yerba, and the residue from the sale of stamped paper, public lands, and other taxes.

In 1862 the commerce of Paraguay was represented by exports $1,867,000, and imports $1,136,000.