RELIGION — INSTRUCTION
869
The Republic is divided into nineteen departments, the area and population of which were reported as follows at the last census taken (in 1876) :-
Area :
Area :
Departments
English
Population
Departments
English
Population
square miles
-
square miles
Piura .
13,931
135,502
lea
6,295
60,111
Cajamarca .
14,188
213,391
Ayacucho
24,213
142,205
Amazonas .
14,129
34,245 '
Cuzco .
95,547
238,445
Loreto
32,727
61,125 •
Puno .
39,743
256,594
Libertad .
15,649
147,541
Arequipa
27,744
160,282
Ancachs .
17,405
284,091
Moquegua
22,516
28,786
Lima . . ) Callao . /
14,760
/ 226,922 t 34,492
Apurlinac
62,325
119,246
Lambayeque
17,939
85,984
Huancavelica . Huanuco . \ Junin . . /
10,814 33,822
104,155 / 78,856 \ 209,871
Total
463,747
2,621,844
There are, besides, many uncivilised Indians, but their numbers are absolutely unknown.
It is believed that the population is nearly stationary owing to the great infant mortality in the lower classes, as well as to small-pox and alcoholism among the Indians.
As a result of the war with Chile, the latter country has annexed the province of Tarapaca. The Chilians have also occupied the provinces of of Tacna and Arica for fourteen years. A popular vote should in 1894 have decided to which country they are to belong, but owing to the failure of nego- tiations for arriving at a modus operandi, the decision was deferred. A convention for the purpose of carrying out the plebiscite was signed at Santiago, April 16, 1898.
Religion.
By the terms of the Constitution there exists absolute political, but not religious freedom, the charter prohibiting the public exercise of any other religion than the Roman Catholic, which is declared the religion of the State. But practically there is a certain amount of tolerance, there being Anglican churches and missionary schools in Callao and Lima. In 1897 an Act was passed removing certain marriage disabilities of non-Catholics, so that marriages of such persons solemnised by Diplomatic or Consular officers or by ministers of dissenting Churches shall, if registered, be valid, and those solemnised before the passing of the Act, if registered before the end of 1899, shall be valid. At the census of 1876 there were 5,087 Protestants, 498 Jews ; other religions, 27,073.
Instruction.
Elementary education is compulsory for both sexes, and is irce in the public schools that are maintained by the municipalities. High schools are maintained by the Government in the capitals of the departments, and in some i>rovinoes pupils pay a moderate fee. There is in Lima a central univer- .sity, called * Universidad de San Marcos,' the most ancient in America ; its charter was granted by the Emperor Carlos V. ; it has faculties of juris- prudence, medicine, political science, theology, and applied science. Lima
