wife died. He then revisited Europe, and in 1809 returned by way of the Unitod States, where he bct-aiiie an enthusiastic adiniicr of republican in- stitutions, and resolved to free his own country from foreign despotism. .Arriving at Venezuela, he at once associated himself with a secret organ- ization of the patriots there: and after the insur- rection of Caracas, April H), 1810. he was sent to London to gain the interest of the British Cab- inet. The British Government, however, declared its neutrality, and Bolivar speedily returned. He fouglit under General Jlirauda in several suc- tessful engagements. In lSl:i the Spaniards re- covered possession of A'enezuela. and Boliviir fled to Curasao. lie did not, however, remain long inactive, l)ut won the sympathy of the republican President of New Granada, raised a force of vol- unteers, defeated the Spaniards several times, his army increasing with each victory; and on August 4, 1S13, entered Can'icas .as a conqueror. He was hailed as the lilicrator of Venezuela, and made absolute dictator in civil and military af- fairs. After defeating the Si)aniards in several engagements, he was himself beaten in the battles of La Puerta ,and Aragua. He now went to Cartagena, and afterwards to Kingston, in Jamaica. In Haiti he assembled the insurgent refugees, landed (December. 181(i) on the island of Margarita, where he convoked a congress, in- stituted a government, and proclaimed the aboli- tion of slavery. The following tAvo years were marked by successes over the Spanish general, !Morillo. In February, 1810. a congress was opened at Angostura, and Bolivar, chosen Presi- dent, was armed with the power of dictator. He conducted his forces over the almost impassable Cordilleras to New Granada, and achieved the victories of Tunja and Sojaca. Soon afterwards (in 1819) New Granada united with Venezuela as the Republic of Colombia, of which he became the lirst President. By 1822 tlic new republic was completely cleared of Royalist trooi)S. Boli- var was summoned the same year to help the Peruvians, and in February, 1824, was named Dictator of Peru. By 182.5 the Spaniards were driven from Peru also: and Bolivar, calling a congress at Lima, formally resigned the dicta- torsliip. The southern jiart of the country was erected into a separate State and named Bolivia (q.v.), of which he was chosen President for life. A form of government suggested by him was ado])ted by Bolivia in 182(1. Widespread dissat- isfaction in Colond>ia, where, in spite of consid- erable opposition, he was conlinned in the presi- dency in 1820 and 1828, led to a consi)iraey a^iinst his life, which was suppressed by the execution of the leaders and banishment of 70 accomplices. In 182!) Venezuela separated itself from the Republic of Colombia, which was g('ner- ally disturl)ed by factions. Bolivar's ambition was loudly denounced, and, virtually forced to re- sign, he retired to Cartagena. He died at San Pedro, December 10. 1830. liaving shortly before his death written a farewell address to the jjcople of Colombia, in which he vindicated his character from the aspersions that had been cast on it, and complained bitterly of ingratitude. The war of liberation and the peculiar elements with which he had to deal, compelled him to assume dictato- lial power; but there is no proof that he wasever insincere in his devotion to liberty. His prop- erty was mainly devoted to the services of his country. He has been described as the Washing- ton of South America. By a resolution of the Congress of Colombia in 1842, his ashes were removed with great pomp from Santa Marta to Carficas. A statue of liolivar was erected in Central Park. New York, 1884. The official docu- ments connected with the career of Boliar were published by the Government at Car.leas in 1820, and his correspondence, in two volumes, at New York in 186.5. Consult Ducoudrey • Holstein, Mimoben de 8. Bolivar (London, 1830).
BOLIVAR (bo-le'var) CITY. See Ciudad Bolivar.
BOLIVIA, Sp. pron. bo-le'^'ya (in honor of
Simon Bolivar). An inland South American re-
public, situated in the western jiart of the con-
tinent, and extending from about latitude 8° S. to
22° .50' S., and from longitude 58° W. to 73° 20'
W It is bounded by Brazil on the north and east,
by Paraguay and Argentina on the south, and by
Chile and Peru on the west. Its area, excluding
the disputed territory of Kl Chaco Gran (q.v.)
and the Littoral Department held by Chile since
the War of 187i*-80, is estimated to be about
515,000 square miles.
TopOGR.vniY. Bolivia is one of the highest regions in America. In a general way it resem- bles Colombia, in that its western part belongs to the region of the Andes (q.v.), while the eastern I)art is occupied b}' extensive plains, or llanos. Two parallel chains of the Andes traverse the counti'v from northwest to southeast, with sev- eral minor r;ingcs branching toward theeast. The eastern chain, or Cordillera Real, contains some of the highest peaks of the two ."Xmerican con- tinents: lllampul, or the Nevado de Sorata, and the lllimani. Imth over 21.000 feet high; Todos Santos, 10.500 feet; Chorolque, 18,500 feet: and the Cerro de Potosf, 15,.500 feet. In the western range the peaks arc generally much less lofty, but they include the giant volcano Sajama. estimated to be nearly 21,000 feet in height. Between the two ranges lies the region known as the Bolivian Highlands, or AUiplmiiric, a plateau with an ele- vation of 12,000 to 13,000 feet. It is traversed by a number of small chains, and contains a portion of Lake Titicaca (q.v.), which lies at an eleva- tion of 12,500 feet, and is believed to be a rem- nant of an inland sea. The mountain chains of Bolivia include many volcanoes, some of which are active at the ju'esent time. Cretaceous forma- tions are found in the western range, while in the Cordillera Real Paleozoic rocks seem to predominate; but the gcolog}' of the region is only imperfectly known. The portion of the country east of the Andes, known as the Jlon- taiia, is occupied by an extensive i)lain, which is traversed by luimeious navigable rivers, and cov- ered with dense forests. The surface is generally level, and its dwline from about 3000 feet near • the Andes to about 300 feet at the eastern boun- dary is so gradual as to be almost imperceptible. The chief rivers of the country flow through this section, which belongs to the basins of the Para- guay and the Madeira. The former, which forms part of the boundary with Brazil, is reached through the Pilcomayo and the Bermejo, both watering the soithern part of the country, while the Madeira takes in the larger portion of Bo- livia through the navigable rivers Beni. It<'nez, and Maniore, with their numerous tributaries. Steamboat navigation has been established on some of these waters. In the region of the Boliv-
