Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/287

* BOLIVIA. 251 BOLIVIA. ian Highlands there are only a few insignificant streams, such as the Desapnadero, which con- nects the lakes of Titieaca and Aiillagas, the lat- ter also connected by a short river with the salt lake of Coipasa. Ci-iitATE. In regard to climate, Bolivia may be divided into three regions: the eastern llanos, or ticrras calientes, where the climate is hot and damp; the highland region, or tici-ras templndnx, with a more or less temperate climate; and the mountain regions, or tierrns friers, where the cli- mate is comparatively cold. At La Paz, situated at an altitude of nearly 12.500 feet, the tempera- ture ranges from 44° to 73", with an average of about 50°. The coldest months are June, July, and August, wlien the temperature is marked by extreme Huctuations. During December, Janu- ary, and Febrvuiry, which constitute the wet sea- .son, rains and hailstorms are frequent, and the rivers are subject to overflow. In the east- ern plains the wet season lasts from Novem- ber to April, but rains occur also during other parts of the 3ear. and inundations are frequent. This portion of the coimtry is the most unhealth- ful. owing to the exhalations from partly sub- merged plains and the poor circulation of the air. The most salubrious and temperate climate prevails in the region of the iledio Yunga, which embraces all the territory lying between 5000 and 9000 feet. For Europeans the climate is rather trying. Dysentery is the usual affliction of newcomers, and fevers and smallpox are not in- frequent, even among the natives. Flora. The flora of Bolivia is most luxuriant in the region Ijclow 6500 feet, where the vegeta- tion is essentially tropical, and where the eolTee, cacao, pineapples, bananas, cotton, sugar-cane, rice, cinnamon, and vanilla, besides numerous medicinal plants, such as cinchona, sarsaparilla, etc., are cultivated. The forests, which are especially abundant in tliis region, are com- posed largely of ebony, mahogany, rosewood, cedar, wax, cork, rubber, and numerous species of ])alm. The temperate zone iiichules all the terri- tory lying between 0500 and 12,000 feet, and em- braces the southeastern and a portion of the west- ern departments. Here are fouiul lemons, grapes, tigs, peaches, .and other European and southern fruits and vegetables, as well as the common cere- als, wheat, corn, barley, etc. In the frigid zone, cr Puna, which comprises, in the territory lying above 12,000 feet, the mountains of the Andes and tlie higli tableland around Lake Titieaca, the Bolivian Highlands, trees are entirely wanting, and the cereals are cultivated only in the more favored regions. It afl'ords, however, extensive grazing-lands, and is inhabited chiefly by Indians engaged in pastoral pursuits. Fauna. The fauna of Bolivia is also charac- terized by great variety, but the difference be- tween the zones is not so well marked as in the case of the flora. The jaguar, puma, tapir, armadillo, several varieties of monkeys, alligators, and many other South American species are well represented. In the higher regions are found Ihe vicuiia, guanaco, and llama. Birds also are numerous, and incltido a variety of parrots, j)igeons, toucans, chatterers, and humming-birds, a few of which fly to altitudes above 14,000 feet. /Xgricultikk, Mi.nekal PROorcnoN, and Ix- DisTRY. Agriculture, notwithstanding the fa- vorable natural conditions, is utterly neglected. The land, though held partly by whites, is eulti- VOL. III.— 17. vated chiefly by the Indians. The methods em« ployed are extremely primitive, most of the work being done by hand. The chief importance of Bolivia lies in its vast mineral rcscnirccs. Tlie ]irofusion of gold decoration found in the royal ])alaces and temples of the Incas at the Spanish Conquest, as well as the numerous instruments belonging to the period i)receding that event wiiich are fotnid in the mines worked at pres- ent, indicate that the gold deposits of Bolivia were exploited by the Incas. After the Span- ish Conquest the natives discontinued the mining of the metal, which was the chief cause of their downfall, and the work was subsequently taken up by the conquerors. The most important centre of gold-mining was the Tipuani River, in the Aiuh's not far from La Paz. After Bolivia became independent gold-mining began to decline, and at present very few mines are worked by modern methods. Gold is supposed to exist in all the mountain streams of the northwestern as well as the southwestern parts of the country. .t present silver, in the amount produced, ranks first among the minerals of Bolivia. This metal is worked chiefly in the Province of Potosf, though it is believed that deposits exist in many other parts of the Bolivian. de3. The total production of silver, as reported by the chief min- ing companies, averages annually over 10,000.000 troy ounces. Tin is next in importance to silver. The tin-mines are situated principally in the de- liartments of Oruro, Potosf, La Paz, and Cocha- bamba, at an altitude of 14.000 feet, the most productive being in the departments of Oruro and Potosi. The otitput of tin lias increased veiy rap- idly, the methods employed being comparatively modern, and amounts at present to about 40.000 tons yearly. Rich copper deposits are located in the mountains near the Desaguadero River, in the Jtepartment of La Paz. The average annual pro- duction of copper aggi'egates about 2000 tons. There are also deposits of bismuth, antimony, bo- rax, salt, lead, zinc, etc. In Bolivia, as in other South American countries, inadequate trans])orta- tion facilities and the lack of modern machinery — obstacles removable only by the aid of foreign cap- ital — ai-e fiietors which militate against the de- velopment possible to the valuable mineral re- sources. That the Government is fully conscious of this fact is evidenced lv its liberality in the gi'anting of concessions and in the matter of ap- ]iropriations for the suiwe^-ing of new railroad lines. Manufacturing industries are practically of no importance. CoMMEECE, Trax.sportation, ETC. Bolivia is greatly hamj)ered in the development of commer- cial interests by its inland situation. It exports chiefly metals, rubber, wool, hides and skins, and other raw products, the trade being carried on principally through the Chilean ports of Anto- fagasta, and Arica, the Peruvian port of Mol- lendo, .and the river ports of Villa Bella and Puerto Suarez, on the eastern frontier. Rstimates for the commerce of Bulivi.a since 1805 place the average annual imports at nearly l.'l,000,000 bolivianos (${1.000.000). and the exports at about 24,000.000 bolivianos ($11,- 000,000). The import trade is to a great ex- tent controlled by Germany, which exports to Bolivia woolens and silks, niacliinery, furni- ture, and clothing. France controls the im- ports of wine, owing to the treaty by which French wines have been admitted free of duty-