Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/206

* MATAGALPA. 178 MATARO. •nith Xamagua, the capital of the Republic, and with the PaciUc Coast. It is the scat of a United !?tates consular agent. Population, about 10,000, largely native Indians. MATAGUAYO, mii'ta-gvva'yo. An Indian stuck of South America. See JSXataco. MATAJA, nia-tii'ya, Victor (1857—). An Austrian political economist, born in Vienna. He studied at the university of his native city, where he lectured from 1.SS4 to ISSK) on politicjil economy. In lMil2 he licld a similar post at the L'nicrsity of InnshrucU. and in the sami'yearhe became councilor in the Ministry and head of the Department of .Statistics at Vienna. Since IS'.IT lie has been professor in the Iniversity of Vienna. He published: Dcr Vnlernehmergemnn (1884) and Dnn Kecht dcs Schadcrwrsatzes vom Utaiid- puiill ilrr "S III ioimliikonomie (1888). MATAMATA, mii'ta-nui'ta (Soxtth American name). A larf;e and sin<niliir turtle {('hch/s funhriata) of Guiana and Northern Brazil, typi- cal of the family Clielidida'. (See Turtle.) " In old age it is;j,5 Ui 40 inches long when the neck is outstretclied ; its rather flat shell is covered with large roughly conical shield-plalcs in three fore-and-aft rows, with a nuirgin of small rough plates. The plastron is weak and narrow. The neck is very long; the head is small and pointed, with the eyes small and close together; the ear Haps large; and the nose produced into a long soft tube at the end of which open minute nos- trils. The jaws are very weak, and partly cov- ered with smooth skin, so that prey (frogs, fishes, and the like) probably are sucked into the widely distensible throat, rather than seized. The most remarkable thing about the creature, however, is the fact that its head and throat are covered with fringes of outgrowths of skin, in rows from its face to its shoulders. These float about like weeds as it lies quietly near the sur- face of the water, and conceal its true character so well that the small animals come within reach unsuspectingly. Not nuich is known of its life- history or habi(s. See TlRTl.E. MATAMOROS, mii'ta-mo'rfts. A town of Mexico on the south bank of the Rio (iiande, 23 miles from its mouth and opposite Browns- ville, Texas (Map: Jlexico, K .5). Its port is Bagdad (q.v. ). and it is the seat of a I'nited States consul. It carries on a large trade with the I'nited States, being situated on the frontier. Population, 1.3.000. The chief ex- ports are specie, hiiles, wool, and horses; the chief imports, manufactured goods from (Jreat Britain and the I'nited States. At the outl)reak of the war hctwccn the United States and Mex- ico, the M<'xican forces were for some time con- centrated here, hut after the battle of Resaca de la Palnia (q.v.) the city was evacuated, and on May 18, 1846. the Americans under General Tay- lor took possession. MATAMOROS, M,ri. o (c. 1770-1814). A McxicMu patrint. Very little is known of his early life or education, lie was first heard of as a priest at a small village called .lantelolco, in the District of Cuernavaca. but in 1811. aroused by the constant insults and atrocities of the Spanish troops, he joined the army of insurgents under command of the patriot .Morelos. By him he was raised to the rank of colonel. He took a most im|>ortant |>art in the battles of Cuautla (1812) and Oajaca (1812), and most notably at the victory of San Agustin del Palmar (1813), which was due almost entirely to his military genius. Had his nominal superiors relied implic- itly on Matamoros's judgment, the issue of the revolution might have been reversed; but in the rash attack on Valladolid the Jlexican forces were routed and Matamoros was captured and shot. His name has been bestowed on the im- portant town of Matamoros. on the Rio Grande, and U])on many smaller towns and districts of the country. By the historians of the time he is considered one of the most skillful of the revolu- tionary leaders. MATAN'ZAS. A province of Cuba, occupy- ing the west-central part of the island, aiid bounded on the north by Florida Strait, on the east and south by the Province of Santa Clara, and on the west by .a short coastline on the Ensenada de la Broa and the Province of La Habana (Map: Cuba, D 4). Its area is 3700 square miles. A line of highlands reaching a height of 1300 feet runs along the north coast, but the province as a whole is low, merging toward the south into the large swamps of Za])ata. ilatanzas is the best sugar-producing province of the Republic, and the dcvelo])ment of its resources is facilitated by a considerable network of railroads. But little tobacco is raised in this province. Commerce is extensive, and the capital. Matanzas (q.v.), is the second commer- cial city of the island. The population of the province in 1887 was 259.578, and in 1899, 202,- 214. MATANZAS. The capital of the Province of ilalnnzas. Cuba, and the third city in size in the island (Map: Cuba, D 3). It is "situated at the head of a small inlet on the north coast of the island. 44 miles cast of Havana. The city is divided into three parts by the little rivers San .luan and Yumuri, and (he most thickly popu- lated district is built on the low and niar-hy ground between the rivers; the northern part, called "ers:illes. however, stands in a high and healthful locality toward the 0|)en sea. The streets arc all straight and regular, and there are several banilsome ixiscas and ])lazas. The most notable buildings are the Ksteban Theatre, the lyceum. the Spanish casino, and the Govern- ment building, ilany of the streets are unpavcd, and the city has a defective water supply and sewer system; its sanitary condition, however, has improved considerably since the w:ir of ISIIS. The harbor is large and well sheltered, but dilli- cult to enter owing to shallows. Next to Havana Matanzas is the principal commercial and rail- road centre of the Republic, the chief exports being sugar, rum, and cigars. The priiicipal in- dustrial establishments are sugar refineries,, rum distilleries, and car aii<l machine shoos. The city of Matanzas is surrounded on the land side by rocky hills and mountains; aiul tliri'C miles east of the city arc the grand caves of Bcllamar. The population in 18!I0 was 3(1.374. Matanzas was first settled in 1093. Its port was long the refuge of pirates. The present town is almost en- tirely of modern development. MAT APAN', Cape. See Cape Matapax. MATARO. mii'(:Vro'. A town of Xortheastern Sp;iin. in the Province of Barcelona, situated on the Mcditirranean coast 18 miles northeast of Barcelona (Map: Spain. G 2). It is surrounded by vineyards and gardens, and has several hand-