Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/76

 66 PAEAGUAY generally inferior to those of the Argentine Republic ; and there are some sheep and oth- er European farm stock. The felidce are the same as those of Brazil, comprising the jaguar, here called onza, puma, and ocelot. The pec- cary, tapir, aguara, ant-eater, and capybara (whose skin is fashioned into tiradores or belts used in lassoing) are found. There are four species of deer : the guazu pucu or cervus palu- dosus, guazu pita or G. rufus, guazu mini or small stag, and guazu bira, usually found in the forests. Other wild animals are, several varie- ties of armadillo, some of which are hunted for their flesh, the tatu, cavy, two kinds of otters, and howlers, red-furred bivjas, the dwarfish ouistiti, and other monkeys. The rivers and lakes swarm with caimans, of which there are two species ; several kinds of lizards are men- tioned, some attaining a length of 8 ft.; the serpents include the boa and two or three venomous snakes, one being a species of rattle- snake, probably the hideous and deadly tri- gonocephalus. Common bats are numerous, as are also vampires, of which 13 varieties have been described by Azara; myriads of locusts appear from time to time, devastating whole districts ; and clouds of mosquitoes, sand flies, and other noxious insects infest the marshes and river banks. A species of ant deposits nodules of wax upon the twigs of the guayava ~blanca, which are gathered and made into candles. The predatory birds are represented by vultures, hawks, and buzzards; the most remarkable of the waders is a kind of giant stork, mycteria Americana ; there are two species of partridge, pheasants, wild ducks, a sort of bustard said to eat serpents like the Brazilian siriema, water hens, and scissor birds ; and seven or eight varieties of parrots and paroquets. The nandu or American os- trich is common; songsters are numerous; and foremost among the birds admired for their brilliant plumage is the tiny mudita or little widow, robed in jet black and snow white. Almost all the rivers afford abundance of fish of delicate flavor, those most esteemed being the pacu, dorado, and palometa. The manufactures are few ; they consist chiefly of coarse cotton and woollen fabrics, utensils made of wood and hides, cigars, preparations of gums and resinous substances, distillation of liquors from the sugar cane and algarroba, molasses and sugar, and ropes and cordage. The implements of agriculture are rude and primitive. In the three years 1861-'3 there were constructed in the arsenal at Asuncion seven mail steamers to ply to Montevideo, be- sides cannon, stores, bells, &c. During the Lopez administration commerce was hampered in various ways, such as government monopolies and other abuses which rendered freedom of trade unknown in the republic ; and the chief staples of export were purchased by the dicta- tor's agents. Nevertheless, and in spite of the natural difficulties in the way of transporting merchandise to the sea from this landlocked YEARS. Imports. Export*. 1851 $173,188 $260,712 1855 328,891 754,425 1859 1,154,736 1,649,759 1860 664,881 1,270,428 state, the commerce of Paraguay had consider- ably increased during the decade following the downfall of Rosas, the Argentine dictator, and the consequent opening of the river traffic, as will be seen from the annexed table of imports and exports for three years of that period, compared with 1851 : The amounts are in dollars of the United States ; the Paraguayan dollar is equivalent to 75 cents. The excess in the value of the exports over im- ports was employed in the construction of an arsenal, the purchase of railway materials and arms, and the education of youths in Europe. The list of the imports and exports for the year 1860, with their values, is as follows : IMPORTS 5. EXPORTS ARTICLES. Value. ARTICLES. Value. Silks. . . Woollens $28,464 100 242 Yerba mate Tobacco $820,395 219,625 Linens and cott'ns 255,040 Dry hides 140,840 Hardware Wines and spirits Groceries 22,388 59,262 116,749 Tanned hides Bark for tanning. Oranges 17,154 16,856 17,599 Dry goods boots Timber 11,099 42265 Sundries 26,871 Total $1 270 43'J Total $664,382 The custom house yielded in the same year $220,000, of which two thirds represented du- ties on imports at 20 per cent, ad valorem, and one third on exports at 5 per cent. Mate, which belonged to the government, paid no duty ; but gold or silver coin, although intro- duced by travellers to defray their current ex- penses, was subject to a duty of 10 per cent, on leaving the republic. The total value of the imports for the year 1873 was $750,000, and of the exports $710,500, showing an ex- cess of imports, contrary to the state of things before the late war. Sugar was imported to the amount of $54,000. The value of the mate, cigars, and hides sent out of the country in 1873 was $459,750, $99,750, and $99,750 respectively, showing a diminution of from 64 to more than 100 per cent, since 1860. Un- der Lopez I. there were comparatively good roads leading from the capital to some of the more important agricultural districts, a car- riage road from Villarica to the Parana was begun, and the railway intended to connect Asuncion and Villarica, and in operation to Paraguary, a distance of 45 m., was begun in 1858. There is no bank or other institution of credit in the republic. In 1863 the nation- al revenue amounted to $4,275,000 ; in 1873 it did not exceed $412,500, the chief sources being duties on imports ($348,000), exports