Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/179

* KIO DE JANEIRO. 159 RIOJA. The leading export is coflee, of which 4,0G6,V34 biigs of 132 pounds each were exported in 18!)7, and 2,U5S,'J!)0 iu 1900. The population of the Federal Distriet (formerly called the ilunieipio Xeutro), which includes the city and its suburbs, was, in 1H;»0, 074.972, and in 1900, 779,000. The first settlement at Rio de Janeiro was made b}' the French, who built a fort on one of the islands of the harbor in 1.555, but were driven out by the Portuguese in 1557. The city itself was founded in 1507. In 1040 it was cap- tured by the Dutch, who held it for a short time. In the middle of the eighteenth century it suc- ceeded Bahia as the capital of Brazil. From 1808 to 1821 it was the residence of the Court of Portugal. Consult: Allain. liio de Janeiro, cjuclijues doiinees sur la mi>itale (Paris, 1885) ; Kiu Janeiro, Archiro do districto federal (Rio de Janeiro, 1894-97). RIO DE LA PLATA, da la plii'ta. See PL.4TA, IxIO DE L.I. RIO DE ORO, O'rd. A Spanish possession on the west coast of the Sahara Desert, extending from Cape Bojador to Cape Blanco, 400 miles, and bounded on the north by Jloroceo, and on the south liy French Sahara (Map: Africa, C 2). The Spanisli territory extends about 230 miles inland, the eastern boundary being fixed by a Franco-Spanish convention in 1901. It is an arid, rocky and sandy plateau, about 1000 feet high, and covered with a scant growth of esparto grass near the sea. though there are a number of oases in the interior. The climate is very dr^' and hot, the temperature sometimes reaching 120°. The inhabitants are mi.xed tribes of Mohammedan Berbers and negroes, obtaining a scanty subsist- ence by raising cattle, sheep, and camels. The only Spanish settlement is at Rio de Oro, on a low peninsula near the centre of the west coast. The Governor here is under the Governor of the Canarv' Islands. Vessels from the latter exploit the fishing grounds along the coasts. Population, estimated (1903), 100.000. RIO GRANDE, griin'di. One of the head- streams of the Parana River (q.v,). RIO GRANDE, or Rio Grande del Norte. A river of the Southwestern United States. It rises in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado, and flows first south through New Mexico, then southeast on the boundary between Mexico and Texas, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico, after a course of 1800 miles (Map: Texas, D 5). Its upper course passes through rocky gorges in which it forms rapids and cata- racts, and lower down it becomes a shallow stream frequently obstructed by sand-bars. The greater part of it lies in an arid region, and in New Mexico its waters are largely drawn off for irrigation, so that during the dry season the river dries up for a considerable distance above and below El Paso. In its lower course it is subject to serious floods. It becomes navigable for small boats about 450 miles from its mouth. Near the latter lies the town of Brownsville, and opposite to it the Mexican town of Matamoras. Consult Stevens, The Valley of the Rio Grande (New York. 1804). RIO GRANDE DE CAGAYAN, da ka'ga- yiin'. The largest river of Luzon, Philippine Islands. It rises on the Caraballo Sur in Central Luzon and flows northward 200 miles through a magnificent valley, which is becoming an im- portant tobacco-producing region (Map: Philip, pine Island.s, F 2). U empties through (ha north coast into the Pacilic Ocean. It is naviga- ble for light-draught steamers, RIO GRANDE DE MINDANAO, men dii- nil'o. The largest river of th.' I'hilippiiie Archi- pelago. See l'iL..oii. RIO GRANDE DO BELMONTE, .lA bel- mOn'la. . river iu Brazil. Sec .iKmiTl.Mlo.MIA. RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, nor'tfl. A north- eastern State of Brazil, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and east, the State of I'arn- liyl)a on the south, and Cearfl on the west (.Map: Brazil, K 5). Area, 22,190 sipiare miles. riic interior is elevated and sparsely watered; (he coasts are low and slightly indented. The chief river is the Piranhas. The climate is hot, l>ut not unhcalthful. Rio Grande do Norte is one of the poorest States of Brazil in regard to natu- ral resources. Cotton, cotfee, and sugar are raised to a limited extent and cattle-raising is also engaged in. The population in 1890 was 268,273. The capital is Natal (q.v.). RIO GRANDE DO STJL, smil. The southern- most State of Brazil, bounded by the State of Santa Catharina on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Uruguay on the south, and Argentina on the west (Map: Argentina, G 9). Area, 91.250 squaie miles. The chief rivers are the .Jacuh.v, which falls into the Lag<Ki dos Patos, and the Ibicuhy, a tributary of the Uruguay. The climate is temjierate and health- ful. The mean temperature varies from about 63° to 66° ; frosts and snow are not infrequent in the more elevated parts, while fever is almost unknown. The chief occupation is cattle-raising. Mining of zinc, amethysts, and agates is also carried on to some extent. The chief ]uiiduct and export of the State is dried meat. There are a number of cotton, woolen, and linen mills, soap factories, and other manufa<-turing estab- lishments. The commerce is quite extensive and the annual exports amount to over $33,000,000. The commercial centre is the State capital. Porto Alegre. The State is well proviilcd with trans- portation facilities. The population in 1890 was 897,455 and in 1900 it was estimated at 908.231. Rio Grande do Sul was colonized mostly by Ger- mans. The foreign population anioimts to about 50 per cent, of the total. RIO GRANDE DO STJL. The chief port and former capital of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, situated at the outlet of the Lagoa dos Patos into the Atlantic Ocean (.Map: .Argen- tina, G 10). The town lies in a barren, sandy plain, but has a safe harbor suitable for vessels of 15 feet draught. The entrance, however, is obstructed by sand tiars. The city is connected by rail with Pelotas. and by steamers with Porto Alegre at the northern end of the lake. It ex- ports beef and other cattle prn.lmts. manioc, and Paraguay tea. Population. 19.000. RIOJA, rf-r/na. La. A northwestern prov- ince of .rgentina. bounded on the north l>y the Province of Catamarca, on the east by Cordoba, on the south by San Luis, and on the west by San .luan and' Chile (Map: Argentina, D 9). Area. 34.546 square miles. Theclimate is verj- dry. and irrigation is generally necessary. Wlient, corn, lucerne, and wine are the chief agricultural products, and some stock-raising is carried on. La i