PARAGUAY, an important river of South America, an affluent of the Parana (q.v.), rises in the Brazilian province of Matto Grosso, on a plateau of red sandstone, in lat. 13' 30' s., long. about 55° 50' w., 9.535 ft. above sea-level. The sources of the river are a number of deep lakes, and 8 m, from its source the stream already has considerable volume. Pursuing a s.w. course, and, after flowing through a level country covered with thick forests, the Paraguay is joined from the w. by the Jauru, in lat. 16° 30' south. It then continues to flow s. through the Marsh of Xarayes, which, during the season when the stream rises, is an expansive waste of waters, stretching far on each side of the stream, and extending from n. to s. over about 200 miles. The river still. pursues a cir cuitous but generally southward course, forming from 20° to 22° the boundary-line between Brazil and Bolivia, thence flowing s.g.w. through the territories of Paraguay to its junction with the Parana, in lat. 27° 17' s., a few M. above the town of Corrientes. Its
chief affluents are the Cuyaba. Tacoary, Moudego, and Apa on the left, and the Jaunt, Pikiontayo, and `Verinejo on the right. Except in the marshy districts, the country on both banks of the river is rich and fertile, and abounds in excellent timber. The entire length of the river is estimated at 1800 miles; it is on an average about half a m. in width, and is navigable for steamers to the mouth of the Cuyaba, 100 m. above the town of Corumba. The waters of the Paraguay, which are quite free from obstructions, were declared open to all nations in 1S52; and now Brazilian mail-steamers ply monthly be tween Monte Video and Cuyaba, on the river of the same name, one of the head-waters of the Paraguay; and there are several lines of steamers between Buenos Ayres and Asuncion.