PARAGUAY, Republic of, South America, is situated nearly in the centre of that continent, between 20° and 27° 30' S. lat, 51° 30' and 59' W. long. It lies between tho rivers Paranti and Paraguay ; and is bounded E. and N. by Brazil; W. by the desert and unsettled country known as the Oran Chaco, claimed by the Argentine Cuufederatiou, but occupied by native Indian tribes; and S. by Corrientes. The area is about 75,000 square miles. The population is about 250,000.
Surface, Soil, Ilydrography.—The northern part of the country is mountainous. From the Serra Selada, one of the mountain ranges which traverse the middle of Brazil from east to west, a branch called Sierra Amambahy detaches itself near 15° S. lat. and 55° W. long. This branch runs fur some distance south-south-west, and then south, dividing the tributaries of the Parana, which run east, from those of the Paraguay, which run west. It enters Paraguay near 20° S. lat., passes iu a southern direction to the vicinity of 24° S. late where it turns eastward and terminates on the banks of the Rio Parsee, opposite the Salto Grande de Sette Quedas. [Bitezte, voL ii. coL 94.J Where it rune west and east this range is called Sierra 31aractuu. That portion of Paraguay which lies on the east and north of this range is little known, being possessed by native tribes. It seems to have a very broken surface, exhibiting a succession of valleys and ranges of high hills, all covered with tall forest-trees. The rivers which descend from it are full of rapids and cataracts. The country west of the Sierra Amambally is leas mountainous, but has likewise a broken surface, and its rivers run with great velocity, though their course is lees interrupted by rapids. It is also well wooded, and in general of great fertility, but few if any whites have settled iu this part.
The remainder, or that part which is situated south of 24° S. lat., is one of the most fertile and most pleasant countries of South America. The greater part of the surface is a succession of hills and gently sloping eminences, and broad open valleys intersected here and there with lakes. The high lands which form the watershed between the affluents of the Parand and those of the Paraguay, are throughout this southern and cultivated part of Paraguay much nearer to the Rio ParaniL The lower grounds and plains are in some tracts savannahs, and afford excellent pasture-ground ; single palm-trees are dispersed over them. The hills and slopes however are wooded from the top to the bottom, and frequently with stately forest-trees. The vigorous
vegetation shows the great fertility of the soil, which is still more evidently proved by the exteut of cultivation. Though cultivation generally occurs only in detached patches and isolated tracts, no part of the interior of South America has a larger proportion of the soil under cultivation than the southern half of Paraguay. But there are some tracts less favourable for agriculture. Nearly thirty miles south of Assuncion begins a low tract of alluvial soil, which is covered with extensive menthes partly occupied by shallow pools of water. It is several miles wide, and extends along the Paraguay to its junctiou with the Parane. Though In general destitute of trees, it is separated from tho banks of the river by forests, which supply occupation to a small number of wood-cutters, the only inhabitants of this unhealthy tract. Near the place where the Paraguay joins the reran& the coun try is more elevated, and its surface is overgrown with thorny acacias and underwood of every kind. But along the Parami other tracts of marshy ground of a similar description extend as far as the island of Apipd, from which to the Salto de Sette Quedaa the hills and elevated ground come close up to the banks of the river.
The rivers Parami and Paraguay which inclose Paraguay on three sides are described under .ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION and Ilium. They differ greatly in their character as navigable rivers. The Perrogsay is navigable In all its extent within this country, though its course is rather rapid at its northern extremity near the rocky barrier called Fecho doe Morro. (21° 20' S. let.). Vessels of 300 tons burden may ascend it as far as Assuncion, and smaller vessels several hundred miles within the boundary of Brazil. The Par-and, which runs along the eastern side of the country, is much less favourable to nasirstion. The great cataract, called Salto de Sette Quedas, near 24* S. lat., forms an insuperable impediment to navigation; and even lower down there occur several difficult passages, where the river descends In lone rapids over rocky shoals. Vessels of 300 tons burden ascend to the island of Ap10, to take in timber. Some of the smaller rivers which join the Paraguay, are navigable to a abort distance from their junction with it, but one of them, the Tibiquari, is navigable above a hundred miles. It drains tho southern portion of the country, and falls into the Paraguay near 26° 30' S. lat.