NEW GRANADA, since Sept. 1861, has been officially styled The United Slates of Colombia. This federative republic was formed at the convention of Bogota, at the date specified, and consists of nine "states," Panama, Santander, Cauca, Boyaca, Cundina marea, Autioquia, Tolima, Bolivar, Magdalena. It is bounded on the n. by the Carib bean sea ; on the w. by Costa Rica, a republic of Central America, and by the Pacific ; on the s. by Ecuador and Brazil; and on the e. by Venezuela. Area, 513,783 sq.m.; pop. '70, 2,894,992, of whom nearly a half are of European descent. By a constitution dated May 1863, the executive authority is vested in a president elected for two years, while the legislative power rests with a senate and a house of representatives. The federal army of this republic consists of 3,000 men on the peace footing. but in a time of war each state is bound to furnish a contingent of oue in a hundred of its population. The revenue in 1S78 was $4,868,800, and the expenditure $7,271,983. The public debt in the same year was close on $16,000,000. The total imports in 1876-77 had a value of $6,709,109; the exports $10,049,071. Besides the railway across the isthmus of Panama, there is another short line; and about 1,250 miles of telegraph are in operation.
The country is intersected by three great ranges of the Andes, which spread out like the rays of an open hand from the plateau of Pasto and Tuquerrez in the s. (14,000 ft. high), and are known as the western, central, and eastern Cordillera. Between these chains lie the long and beautiful valleys of the Cauca and the Magdalena. The central Cordillera is the highest chain, rising in Nevada de Tolima to a height of 18,020 ft , and and from one of its peaks, near the frontiers of Ecuador. called the Paramo de las Papas, descend the two principal rivers of New Granada, the Magdalena and its tributary the Cauca, flowing n. in the Caribbean sea, besides several affluents of the Amazon in the e. and one or two streams flowing westward into the Pacific. The eastern Cordillera is by far the largest chain, and consists of a series of vast table-lands, cool and healthy, where the white race flourishes as vigorously as in Europe. This temperate region is the most densely peopled portion of the confederation, being, in some places, at the rate of 2,600 to the square league, Bogota (q.v,) the present capital, is situated on one of these pla teaux, at an elevation of 8,694 feet. Eastward from this Cordillera stretch enormous plains as far as the Orinoco, the greater part of which belongs to New Granada, and through which flow the Meta, the Guaviare, and other tributaries of the Orinoco. The geology of the country is very extraordinary. "Everywhere," we are told, "arc found traces of stupendous eataelystns, and a disarrangement and intermixture of primitive and sedimentary rock, which seem to put all classification at defiance." In the course of one
day's journey, the traveler may experience in this country all the climates of the world. Perpetual snow covers the summits of the Cordilleras; while the rich vegetation of the tropics ewers the valleys. With its great variety of levels and climates, New Granada yields naturally an equally great variety of productions: cattle, horses, wheat and other European grains, maize, tobacco, coffee, plantains, cotton, cacao, sugar, cedar, mahog any, cinchona bark, ipecacuahna, gold, silver, copper, iron, and lead, coal, emeralds, pearls, and rock-salt.
By the constitution, complete toleration in matters of religion and worship, the free dom of the press, a system of parish schools, with gratuitous primary education, and many other important helps to civilization and liberty have been established. The inhabitants rank first among the South Americans in point of literary and scientific cul ture. There are at present about 1000 public schools in the country, many seminaries and colleges for higher and professional instruction; there are printing establishments, periodicals, and numerous literary, scientific, and benevolent institutions.
The chief aborigines of the country, called Chibchag or Nuyseas, held a high rank among the semi-civilized nations of the New World. - They are said to have been frugal and industrious, with :a,well-organized government and a Very passable religion—for heathens. They were conquered by Ximenes de Quesado (1536-37), and their descendants are now " Christians," and speak the Spanish language. Several of the other tribes still maintain a savage mode of life; and some, as the Mesayos, are even said to be cannibals. In 1718, New Granada was erected into a vice-royalty by Spain. In 1819, it became independent, and then joined with Ecuador and Ve leznela to form the republic of Colombia; but the union was dissolved in 1S29-30, and New Granada was organized as a separate republic in 1832. After several changes in the constitution (in 1843, 1851, 1853), a complete fundamental change was made in 1858, by which the separate " provinces " were changed into "states," associated under a federal government like the "United States" of North America, but self-governing in all internal affairs. In 1860, another revolution broke out, and for more than two years, the country was devastated by civil war. Finally, on Sept. 29, 1861, a convention was concluded between the conservatives or federalists, and the " liberals," which put an end to the strife. As the victory lay with the latter, certain changes have again been made in the constitution, and the country is now, as stated above, officially designated the " United States of Colombia." The first president under the new form of the constitution commenced his term of office on April 1, 1864.