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PERU 199 PERU the (Jistrict of Paucartambo rain falls 300 days in the year. A country, how- ever, of such an uneven surface, of snow- covered peaks and tropical valleys, em- braces every variety of climate. The highest peaks of the country reach to up- ward of 22,000 feet, and many peaks in both ranges are from 17,000 to 20,000 feet high. In the West Cordillera and in the S. of the country are four volcanoes — Candarave, Ubinas, Ornate, and Arequipa. The hydrog- raphy of Peru may be said to be divided into three systems — those of Lake Titi- caca, the Pacific, and the Amazon. The streams that flow into Lake Titicaca are few and inconsiderable. The rivers which, having their sources in the West Cordillera, flow W. into the Pacific, are 60 in number. Commerce. — The sugar production greatly increased following the outbreak of the World War. It rose from 185,000 tons in 1914 to over 820,000 tons in 1916-1917. In 1919 the acreage of sugar- cane was estimated at over 1,000,000 and efforts were being made to increase the area. The total imports for 1918 amounted to £9,705,113, and the exports to £19,972,595. The chief imports were coal, textile bags, wheat, lumber, and industrial oils. The chief exports were sugar, cot- ton, copper, petroleum and wool. In 1918 395 vessels of 790,133 tons entered in the foreign trade at Callao and 364 vessels of 717,340 tons cleared. Transportation. — The total length of railways in Peru was 1,889 miles. Of these, 1,358 miles were state railways under the control of the Peruvian Cor- poration. They include the Peruvian Central, from Callao and Lima to Huan- cayo; the Southern Railway of Peru, from Mollendo to Puno; the Paita to Piura Railway; and the Pacasmayo to Guadalupe Railway. There were about 274 telegraph offices, with about 8,000 miles of line. Three submarine tele- graph cables connect Peru and Chile, and one connects Peru and the repub- lics to the north. There is a telephone system with about 3,000 miles of wire. In 1919 there were 19 wireless stations. Education. — Elementary education is compulsory, but the law is loosely en- forced. In 1919 there were 2,880 pri- mary schools with 195,689 pupils and 4,284 teachers. There were about 300 pupils in the normal schools and about 5,000 in the government high schools. The high schools are maintained by the governments in the capitals of the differ- ent departments. There is a central university at Lima called the University of San Marcos. It has about 1,500 stu- dents. There is also in Lima a school of mines and civil engineering, a national agricultural school, and a school of arts and trades. Finances. — The total revenue in 1919 was £2,972,997, and the expenditure £2,680,767. The total debt on Jan. 1. 1919, was £5,802,144. Army and Navy. — Military service is compulsory and universal. The peace strength of the army is 11,000. The coun- try is divided into 5 military districts, each furnishing a complete division. Military instruction is given in the mili- tary schools and in special schools. The navy consists of 6 vessels; 3 cruisers, 2 submarines, and one submarine de- stroyer. Government. — The constitution was amended in 1919. The republic is di- vided into departments and into prov- inces. The legislative power is vested in a Senate and a House of Representa- tives. The former is composed of depu ties from the provinces. The executive power is in the hands of a president, and there are two vice-presidents who take the place of the president only in case of his death or incapacity. There is a coun- cil of State consisting of 6 members, se- lected by the ministers of State, to be confirmed by the Senate. There are three regional legislatures, northern, central, and southern. These have au- thority to pass legislation for local mat- ters, which is reviewed by the Central Congress at Lima. The Central Con- gress is elected every 5 years. Congress is elected for 5 years as well as the presi- dent. The Senate consists of 35 mem- bers and the Chamber of Deputies of 110. The president is elected by a popu- lar vote and only in the case of his death can the Congress elect. History. — Peru, the origin of whose name is unknown, is now passing through its third historical era, and is manifest- ing its third phase of civilization. The present era may be said to date from the conquest of the country by the Spaniards in the early part of the 16th century; the middle era embraces the rule of the Incas; and the earliest era, about which exceedingly little is known, is that of pre-Incarial period of unknown duration, during which a nation, or nations, living in large cities flourished in the country, and had a_ civilization, a language, and a religion differ- ent, and perhaps in some cases even more advanced, than those of the Incas, who succeeded them and overran their territories. Reg:arding the origin of the Incas nothing definite can be said. There are no authorities on the subject save the traditions of the Indians, and these, besides being outrageously fabu- lous in character, are also conflicting. It