PAEZ. A mountain tribe of Colombia, occupying about twenty villages in high Central Cordilleras. westward from Bogota. They are believed to be the principal modern represen tatives of an ancient group of allied tribe:, hos tile to the more civilized Chibcha (q.v.). and constituting a distinct linguistic stock. They are hunters and go nearly naked in spite of the cold, hut wear hats woven from reeds or bark. They also weave mats and cloth from maguey fibre. and have some skill in hampering gold into ornaments. They burn the houses in which either a death or a birth occurs. They number about 2000.
PAEZ,Tomo (1790-1873). A Ven ezuelan soldier and political leader, born at Araure in the old Province of Barinas. He was of aboriginal descent, and passed his early life as herdsman on the Ilanos of the Apure. On the outbreak of the War for Independence he led a body of his half savage comrades to join the patriot rank-, and soon made his name a terror to the Spaniards. His most important victory was that of Carabobo in D321, when he defeated the Spanish General Latorre and so assured the independence of Colombia. The next year he was given the chief military com mand in the Department of Venezuela, and in 1823 drove the Spaniards from Puerto Cabello, their last foothold in the Republic. In 1829 Venezuela, under his influence, seceded from Colombia, and in the following year he was elected its first President. At the end of his term in 1834 he was succeeded by Dr. Josi".
Vargas. during whose administration there were two attempts at revolution. Both were quickly suppressed by Paez, who in 1839 again became President and served until 1843. During the war between the Creoles and the colored people in 1846 he was made dictator, but at the conclusion of hostilities declined to become President, and resigned his powers to General Slonagas. Scarcely a year later. how ever. he rebelled against the despotism of his successor, was defeated and captured. and was kept in prison until 1850. when he was allowed to leave the country. After the fall of Monagas, in 1858, he returned to Venezuela, and in 1860 was appointed Minister to the United States. The next year he was made commander of the and a few months later was proclaimed dictator. On account of age, he confided his duties to one of his ministers, who grossly usurped his power. The result was an insurrection which spread rapidly until, on June 15. 1863, Paez was forced to resign his office and again go into exile. In 1871 he went to New York, where lie passed the last years of his life. In 188S his remains were placed in the Pantheon at Caracas. Con sult: Autobiogratia de General Jose Antonio Paez (New York. 1867) : Paez. Public Life of J. .t. T'ae' (1864) ; Jones's translation of The history of South America (London. 1879). and Guzman Blanco's Apotcosis do General Pacz (Paris, 1889).