Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/413

* CONTRAYEBVA. 353 CONTRIBUTION. species of Dorsteniii, tropical American plants of the natural order Moraeea? The genus is remarkable for the jjlane receptacle in which the minierous small flowers are fixed; the male flowers in superficial depressions, the female flowers in deep sockets. The flowers have neither calyx nor corolla. The fruit consists of achenia, imbedded in the flesli^y receptacle from which they are projected by elastic force when ripe. Dnrslriiia contraiierva is a perennial plant with palmate leaves and somewhat quadrangular receptacles. Its rootstock is knotty, one to two inches long, about one-half incli thick, reddish- brown, pale within, sending out on all sides many slender fibres ( roots ), which are generally loaded with small brown knots. It has a peculiar aromatic, overpowering smell, and a somewhat astringent, warm, bitter taste. It keeps badly. It contains so nuicli mucilage that a decoction of it will not pass through a filter. Dorstcnia Brasiliensis, a stemless species, with oblong, heart-shaped leaves, and a circular receptacle, a nati^•e of the West Indies and Brazil, possesses similar properties, but is said to be more ener- getic. Other species jjossess similar properties. They have been also represented as efficacious against serpent-bites, and hence the name 'cou- trayerva,' a counter-poison. CONTBERAS, kon-tra'ras. A village about 12 miles southwest of the City of Mexico, the scene, August 19 and 20, 1847, during the Mexi- can War, of an important battle between a Mexi- can force of 7000 under General Valencia, supported by another of 12,000 un.der General Santa Anna, and a United States force of 4500 under General Scott. The Mexicans occupied a strong position on high ground and fought for a time with great gallantry, but, being attacked both in front and rear at daylight on the 20th, finally gave way and fled in confusion, after having lost in killed and captured over 1500. The American loss in killed and wounded was reported by General Scott at 60. Consult Wil- cox, History of the Mexican ^Var (Washington, 1892), and Antobiography of Lieutenant-General Scott (New York, i8(i4). CONTRERAS, Hernando de (c.I520-50). A Spanish a<lventurer, a son of Rodrigo de Con- treras, Go^■ernor of Nicaragua. After the con- fiscation of his father's property, he plotted revenge by organizing, in company with his brother Pedro, an expedition against Peru, which he determined to seize as his inherit- ance, tracing his claim somewhat remotely to certain rights of his grandfather, Pedrarias, the former Governor of Nicaragiia. After mur- dering the Bishop of Nicaragua, they captured Panama, April 20, 1550, and took a large part of the treasure left there by the licentiate Gasca. Wliile Hernando was pursuing Gasca, who was already on his way from Peru to Spain, the citizens of Panama retook the city, and pursued the brothers. Hernando was shortly afterwards drowned (May, 1550) while en- deavoring to make his escape, and Pedro fled into the interior of the conntrj', where every trace of him was lost. CONTRERAS, .Juan Senen de (1760-1S26). A Spanish soldier. He was born in Jladrid, studied militai-y matters in England and various Continental countries, and took part, in 1788, in the campaign of .ustria against the Turks. In the War of Independence he greatly distinguished himself, in particular at Talavera and at the de- fense of Tarragomi, where he was captiired by the French. He was imprisoned in the Castle of Bouillon, but escaped thence in 1812, and made liis way to London, whence lie returned to Spain in 1814. He wrote an account of the siege of Tarragona which appeared in Paris in 1825 as volume iii. of the Memoires relatifs aux rcrolii- lions de France et d'Espagne. CONTRIBUTION (Lat. contributio. from coiitribucrc, to contribute, from com-, together + trihucrc, to grant, from tribus, tribe; probably connected with trabs, beam, Umb. trefu, Welsh Iref, village, Gotli. pat'rp, AS. ])orp, OHG. dorf, Ger. Dorf, village). In the law of war, a levy of money or sujjplies imposi'd by an invader upon the citizens of an enemy's territory entered. The term requisition is usually applied to a levy of supplies, which may consist of food, forage, clothing, or means of transport. Contributions are an outgrowth of the old conditions of pillage and devastation which formerly marked the course of an invader. Private property in land early became exempt from seizure owing to immovability : but personal ]iroperty, being of a portable character, was appropriated so as to impair the enemy's strength. This custom reached its height during the seventeenth cen- tuiy, when armies of adventurers swept over Europe, depending upon the country for sup- port. Gradually, with the growth of more hu- jiiane feelings and the more practical reason of increased efficiency and discipline in armies, the custom hardened into the usage of permitting inhabitants of invaded territories to purchase immunity from plimder by payment of a money indemnity. A contribution is of the nature of an extraor- dinary tax (regular taxes being approjiriated as public property by the enemy), and though it is levied primarily by the invader, it is ad- ministered by local representative authorities, and its incidence is thus regulated. Modern usage has approved the giving of receipts or 'bons de requisition' for the sums or quantities taken, to guard against burdensome demands by later commanders ; also to furnish a basis for recovery from the domestic government in the event of national division of the loss. Yet the State is not generally held liable for losses en- tailed by contribution; but these losses are con- sidered to have happened from superior force beyond the State's control, except when a cer- tain territory has been given over to an enemy to protect the rest of the country. In that case justice demands a diff'erent rule. Effort has been made by international convention to modify the usage of exacting contribution, and modern war- fare has relaxed its severities, though during the Franco-Prussian War it was rigorously enforced by Prussia. The Allies made no levies in the Crimea, nor did the United States in Mexico in 1847. The British also generally purchased supplies from the Boers. In each of these cases, however, this conduct appears to have been dic- tated by motives of momentary policy. Con- tribution should be distinguished from tribute, which is usually a condition of peace exacted by treaty. Consult the authorities referred to under Wab. See Tax; Trigute; Conquest.