words sealed his fate," said Charlotte after ward. Drawing from beneath the handkerchief which covered her bosom the knife she had concealed there, she plunged it to the hilt in Marat's heart. He gave a loud cry and sank back dead. The news of the murder soon spread. The room became crowded with people, and as they gazed upon the beautiful girl, who looked serenely and calmly upon the general confusion, they could hardly believe that she was the assassin. She was transferred to the nearest prison, the Abbaye. Her trial took place on the morning of July 17; she was sentenced to death, and guillotined the evening of the same day. During her trial and during the execution her courage did not forsake her for a moment. She declared that her project had been formed since May 31, when the Robespierre party had pronounced the doom of the Girondists, and that she had killed one man in order to save a hundred thousand. Her remarkable beauty, and her lofty bearing on her way to the guillotine, sent a thrill even through the hearts of her exe cutioners. One young German enthusiast, Adam Lux, a deputy from the city of Mentz, on witnessing the execution, conceived a romantic passion for her, and when her head fell, he cried with a voice hoarse with emotion: "She is greater than Brutus." He wrote a pamphlet, suggesting that a statue with such an inscription should be erected to her memory. He was arrested and guillotined. André Chénier, who had paid a glowing poetical homage to her heroism, shared the same fate before a year had elapsed. When Vergniaud was informed of Charlotte's death, he exclaimed: "She has killed us, but she teaches us how to die."

CORDELIERS. I. A name given in France to the friars of the Franciscan order, in allusion to the cord tied with 3 knots which they wear as a girdle. The title is said to have originated in the time of the crusades, when St. Louis, struck by their prowess in battle with the infidels, asked their name, and was told that they were cordeliez, or "tied with cords." (See FRANCISCANS.) II. A political club during the first French revolution, which received the name of Cordeliers from the fact that its members met in the chapel of the old convent of the Franciscan friars situated near the rue de l'Ecole de Médicine and the rue de l'Observance, in the centre of the quarter of Paris known as the Cordeliers' district. The club of the Cordeliers became the focus of the wildest agitators, while at the same time it was constantly quarrelling with the Jacobin club. The leading events of the reign of terror may be traced to the conflict of the 2 clubs, and chiefly to the influence of the Cordeliers, of whom Marat and Danton were the ruling spirits. At the time the club was in its zenith, Camille Desmoulins edited a popular journal in connection with it, under the name of Le vieux Cordelier, without however identifying himself completely with the politics of the formidable club. After the execution of Danton, Hébert, and Chaumette, the club declined

in influence, and was closed by the law of 6th Fructidor, or Aug. 23, 1795, which dissolved all the political clubs of France.

CORDILLERA, a Spanish word meaning a mountain chain or ridge. It is commonly applied to the whole or a portion of the chain of the Andes, as La Cordillera de los Andes; La Cordillera de la Costa, the chain which runs near the Pacific coast; La Cordillera Real, the northern prolongation in Venezuela and New Granada of the main interior chain. Some authorities consider the Cordilleras of Central America and those extending northward near the Pacific to the frigid zone as the continuation of the Andes (as already stated in our article on ANDES), forming with them one range from the Antarctic to the Arctic ocean, and that hence they should be described under one common name. But the break at the isthmus of Panama, the only one in the whole chain between this point and the straits of Magellan; the splitting up and diverging course of the ranges of the Andes as they approach the northern limits of South America; and the fact that the comparatively low elevation of the narrow strip forming the isthmus can at the most be called the continuation of the inferior Cordillera of the coast, taking on the other side of the break an entirely new course, as it sweeps round to N. W.; these lead others to the conclusion that the mountain ranges of North and South America are too distinct from each other to be classed as one range, notwithstanding they are connected by the continuation throughout their extent of the same great geological formations. However this may be determined, as the South American Cordilleras have been treated under the term ANDES, the ranges through Central America and Mexico may for want of another generic name be described under the head of Cordilleras, a term commonly applied to any portion of them in Spanish states; while to their extension further north the name ROCKY MOUNTAINS is given. Upon the isthmus the Cordilleras present the lowest and narrowest barrier between the two oceans. The distance across varies from 30 to 70 m. The railroad constructed from Aspinwall on the Atlantic side to Panama on the Pacific coast traverses the isthmus in a length of 49 m., ascending to the summit level only 300 feet. It is said that the summit level between Port Escosces on the Atlantic and the mouth of the Savanna in the harbor of Darien is only 150 feet above the sea; and this point is suggested as the most favorable for a ship canal between the two oceans. the mountains, as they are seen from the sea, present the appearance of continuous ranges of great height, the overlapping of the different ridges concealing the gaps, as also the valleys and low lands, and thickly wooded undulating plains, that lie between the mountains. The unhealthiness of this portion, the incessant rains that fall during a considerable part of the year, the almost impenetrable nature of its dense forests, and the inhospitable disposition

Yet

of the native Indians that occupy the territory, have prevented its resources in the valuable timber of the tropics, and in the gold and copper ores of the mountains, from being developed, although the abundance of these products is fully established. The adjoining country to the N. W., called Costa Rica, is so named from the rich ness of the gold mines found in the Cordilleras, as they spread over its surface in spurs diverging northward from the great central chain. These ridges present their steep slopes toward the Pacific; on the Atlantic side they fall away more gently. The San Juan river finds its way through them from Lake Nicaragua to the Atlantic, the main range, called the Alto Grande, continuing to the N. E. of this lake and of the adjacent smaller lake, Managua. On the other side a straight and narrow mountainous belt separates these lakes from the Pacific, which belt is so unbroken, that though the waters of the lakes and the ocean approach within 12 m. of each other, and a stage road passes across from Rivas to San Juan del Sur, yet no favorable locality appears to exist for the construction of a ship canal, even if the rapids of the San Juan in its passage through the Cordilleras were so improved as to form a part of the interoceanic communication. Along this western range occur several volcanoes and many extinct craters and beds of lava, though the real volcanic belt lies a little further east, passing through the western portion of the two lakes. The central basin between the two outer mountain ranges, including the two lakes, and extending about 300 m. in length by about 150 in width, comprises the fine state of Nicaragua, a country presenting the greatest diversity of beautiful scenery. The rugged mountains on each side are the frames in which are included the broad fertile plains and the large lakes, one of which extends in a parallel direction with the mountains a distance of about 100 m. From its surface and on its shore huge volcanoes rise abruptly to the height of several thousand feet; others appear ranged along the same line, disturbing the smooth contour of the vast plains, above which they stand dark and gloomy, their sides rent with the deep volcanic fissures and black with their covering of ancient lavas. The shores of the lakes are covered with the dense vegetation of the tropics, while the broad slopes of the Alto Grande overlooking them are the open grazing lands for countless herds of cattle. Beyond these, along the summits of the great range, and upon the sources of the streams which flow into the Atlantic, is the mineral region of Chontales, Matagalpa, and Segovia, extending further northward into Honduras. The mines were worked for gold by the early Spanish settlers, and are still made to yield their products to the rude machinery of the native Indians; little is known of their real value, however, and still less of that of the silver mines reputed to exist in the same region. The geological formations of the western portion of the basin appear to be almost wholly of a volcanic character, as

basaltic rocks and lava, with limestone and a calcareous breccia formed in great part of volca nic products. The volcanoes still emit smoke and sometimes flame from their summits, but streams of lava are rarely known to flow from them. Some of the larger, as that of Momobacho (about 5,000 feet high) on Lake Nicaragua, a few miles S. of the city of Granada, are regarded as extinct. The volcanic cone of Ometepec, upon an island in the same lake, is very regularly shaped, and, like the neighboring summit of Madeira, rises to a greater height than Momobacho. The volcanoes El Viejo and Momotombo, to the N. W. of Lake Managua, are supposed to be about 6,000 feet high. The climate of this portion of the Cordilleras is described as salubrious and of moderate temperature, cooled by the trade winds after these have shed a considerable portion of the moisture they come charged with from the Atlantic upon the easternmost ridges of the range. The rains are therefore not excessive even during the rainy season, which extends from May to November. The thermometer during this season rarely sinks by night so low as 70° upon the plains, or rises in the day to 90°. In the dry season the temperature is somewhat lower, and the nights are positively cool, especially upon the mountains.

Through Honduras, San Salvador, and Guatemala the Cordilleras continue with little variation of character. On the E. they send out spurs toward the Atlantic, and the inferior volcanie range still skirts the Pacific. Five volcanoes are enumerated in San Salvador, the most active of which is Yzalco, and the 2 highest, San Vicente and San Salvador, are each estimated to rise to an elevation of 9,000 feet. In Guatemala 6 volcanoes are recorded to be in activity, viz.: Picaya, Fuego, Agua (so named from its pouring forth torrents of water), estimated to be 15,000 feet high, Atitlan, 12,500 feet, Sapotitlan, 13,050 feet, and Amilpas, 13,160 feet. Earthquakes are frequent throughout this region. Even in the cities the houses are built of one story only, as a measure of precaution. Upon the main range of the mountains, in the department of Tegueigalpa in Honduras, at the source of the Patook, which flows into the Atlantic, it is stated that no less than 40 silver mines are found within a circuit of 30 miles radius. From want of enterprise in the inhabitants they are worked to little advantage. Near the Pacific coast copper ores are found abundantly, but they too are neglected. They are also met with in the Lepaguare valley in the department of Olancho, and were formerly worked to supply the mint at Tegucigalpa, the ores being carried 8 days' journey upon the backs of mules. These regions produce in great abundance valuable mahogany, rosewood, red cedar, boxwood, India rubber, vanilla, cochineal, sarsaparilla, &c., large quantities of most of which are floated down the Patook to the Atlantic coast. The temperature of the interior region is never excessive; the thermometer during the dry season from November to February seldom rises above 80° F. at

noon, or falls below 55° in the morning. During the summer wet months at Jutecalpa, considerably to the eastward of the main range and below its summits, the nights are said to be always cool, and the extreme temperature of the day is below 95°.-Passing from Guatemala into Mexico, the mountain ranges diminish in height. At the isthmus of Tehuantepec one may pass from ocean to ocean over a summit not more than 700 feet high. The mountains thence to the northern limits of the state spread out in a vast plateau, the height of which along its middle portion is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet above the sea, and its greatest width near the latitude of the city of Mexico is about 360 m. It extends toward the N. W. at this elevation full 600 m., presenting a smooth surface, mostly unsheltered by the growth of forest trees, though the soil is naturally fertile. Still further north for 900 m. the plateau is traced at an elevation of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. On either side one descends from this cool elevated region by successive steps to lower plateaus, each descent bringing the traveller into a region of warmer temperature, and of more tropical productions. From the tierra fria, or cold region, the first descent is to the tierra templada, or temperate tract; the next to the tierra caliente, the low lands along the Atlantic coast, hot and un-, healthy. So steep are the walls of these plateaus, that for a distance of 500 m. only 2 roads passable by carriages lead from the Atlantic coast into the interior-one passing from Vera Cruz through Jalapa, and the other by Santilla west of Monterey. On the western side the descent is hardly less precipitous, and to the south the great plateau ends abruptly near the shores of the Pacific. The climate of the elevated plateau, though called cold, is said not to differ in its mean temperature (which is about 62° F.) from that of the central parts of Italy. There are some still more elevated tracts, as the valley of Toluca, the height of which is about 8,500 feet above the sea, in which the thermometer, as stated by Humboldt, during a great part of the day rarely rises beyond 45° F. The volcanic mountains, which are still met with along the chain as far as 24° N., rise from the great plateau in stupendous masses, and penetrate with their lofty peaks the limits of perpetual snow. Their range is not, as in the more southern states, near to and parallel with the Pacific coast, but a line of them appears to cross that of the great mountain chain in an E. and W. direction, passing about 16 m. south of the city of Mexico. The most western of them, called Colima, stands alone upon the plain of the same name, situated between the plateau and the Pacific. Its height is supposed to be about 9,000 feet. Smoke and ashes are frequently thrown from its crater, but no lava has been known to flow. Jorullo, upon the western slope of the plateau, 70 m. from the Pacific, is described by Humboldt as suddenly appearing above the surface in the night of Sept. 28 and 29, 1759, after an interval of a few

weeks of tranquillity, followed by a succession of earthquakes, which had continued for about two months. A tract covering several square miles rose in convex form above the plain to the height of 524 feet. Flames burst forth from all parts of this area, and burning rocks were thrown with vast clouds of ashes into the air, the softened surface of the earth rising and falling like the waves of the sea. Rivers of water flowing into the chasms caused eruptions of mud to issue from thousands of little cones that appeared upon the surface. In the midst no less than 6 mountain masses were suddenly formed along a chasm ranging from N. N. E. to S. S. W. The principal one of them is the great volcano of Jorullo. Its height above the sea is 4,265 feet; that of the plain upon which it stands is 2,890 feet. Its great eruptions continued till the month of February, 1760; subsequently they became less frequent. A wall of basalt forms the boundary of the upheaved tract, which in most places, especially on the W. side, is too steep to be ascended. The celebrated valley of Mexico, nearly 7,500 feet above the sea, and covering an area of 18 leagues in length by 121 in breadth, is encircled by groups of mountains, among which are the famous volcanic peaks of Popocatepetl, Iztacihuatl, and Toluca. The first is the highest summit in Mexico, rising to the height of 17,720 feet above the sea, and 500 feet above the termination of vegetation. Its crater is 3 m. in circumference and 1,000 feet deep, and is in continual eruption. The second is an extinct volcano 15,705 feet high. A chain of small volcanoes connects these with each other, and also with the other volcanoes further east. The Cofre de Perote lies between Popocatepetl and the fiery Orizaba, or Citlaltepetl, "the mountain of the star," a name given to it for the fires that ever issue from its snow-enveloped summit, dispelling as by the light of a brilliant constellation the darkness of the night through the surrounding country. Below the plateau, in the region of low hills near the gulf of Mexico, is the last of the volcanoes upon this line. It is called Tuxtla, is situated a few miles west of Vera Cruz, and was in operation in 1793, when the ashes thrown from its crater were carried as far as Perote, a distance of 57 leagues. The great Mexican plateau, though over a considerable portion as level apparently as the ocean itself, is cleft by deep fissures called barancas, of 2 or 3 m. in length, and often 1,000 feet deep. A brook or small river flows at the bottom, the banks of which are the precipitous and rugged walls of the chasm. Some mountain ranges beside those of the volcanoes rise above the plain, as one bordering it on the eastern side, and the Sierra Madre, which, commencing at lat. 21° N., and extending 60 m. further north, separates it for this distance into 2 portions. Other ridges here unite with it, spreading out into the mountainous district of Zacatecas, celebrated for its rich silver mines. Beyond this the Sierra Madre forms a belt of full 100 m. in breadth of parallel ridges and

valleys, extending to New Mexico, where it unites in lat. 38° N. with the southern portion of the Rocky mountains. Between the Rio Colorado and the Rio Grande del Norte some of the summits of the Sierra Madre exceed 10,000 feet in height above the sea, and are continually covered with snow. The geological structure of the Cordillera of Mexico is that of granitic and volcanic rocks, together with the micaceous, talcose, and clay slates, which form a considerable portion of the range, especially in the mining districts. So many of the rich silver mines of Mexico are found in porphyry, that its presence is regarded as particularly favorable for the existence of this metal. It is also found, however, in the metamorphic limestones, and in those called by Humboldt the Alpine and the Jura. In no part of the range of the Cordilleras in North and South America has the production of this metal been so great as in Mexico. It was estimated by Humboldt to be 10 times as great as that furnished by all Europe, and of the whole annual production of the globe. The annual yield was rated by him at about 1,541,015 lbs. troy. But of the gold the production was not much greater than that of Hungary and Transylvania, amounting in ordinary years only to 4,315 lbs. troy. The vegetation of the elevated country varies with its height. On the high plains the forests destroyed by the early Spanish settlers have never been renewed, though there are still to be seen fine open groves of gigantic oaks and pines, clear of undergrowth. The plains as seen about the city of Mexico are not always fertile, but have become sterile, and covered in many places with saline incrustations.

CORDOVA. I. A celebrated city of Spain, and capital of the province of the same name, lat. 37° 52′ 15′′ N., long. 4° 49′ 37′′ W., 65 m. from Seville, is situated in a beautiful plain on the right bank of the Guadalquivir, here crossed by a Moorish bridge of 16 arches; pop. 58,000. Cordova is renowned for its picturesque buildings, its beautiful location, and for its unsurpassed cathedral, once a Moorish mosque. The town itself resembles eastern towns in its inconveniently narrow streets, and its want of ventilation and cleanliness. There are several churches and religious houses, a bishop's palace, a theatre, a museum, a lyceum, a plaza de toros, and several hospitals. The great mosque of Cordova was founded by Abderrahman I. the Wise, A. D. 786. It was an edifice of marvellous beauty, with a light, elegant roof, springing from clusters of slender pillars, and was lighted with 4,000 silver lamps. There were originally 1,200 pillars, but the Christians have taken away 400 to make an open space suitable for Christian worship. It was the Corduba of the Romans, the birthplace of the two Senecas and of Lucan the poet. It sided with the sons of Pompey, and after the battle of Munda it was taken by Cæsar, when 23,000 of its inhabitants are said to have lost their lives. Its foundation is attributed to Marcellus, the commander in

the Celtiberian war (152 B. C.), and being peopled by poor patricians of Rome, it was hence called Colonia Patricia. Under the Goths, Cordova was called "holy and learned." Osius, the friend of St. Athanasius and the counsellor of Constantine, was its bishop from the end of the 3d to the middle of the 4th century. Under the Moors, Cordova became the Athens of the West, the nurse of science, the cradle of great captains; produced Averroes, Maimonides, and other famous scholars; rose to be the capital of the Moorish empire of Spain, and the seat of the caliphate from 756 to 1031, eclipsing Bagdad by its splendor, and containing in the 10th century nearly 1,000,000 inhabitants, 300 mosques, and 900 baths. After the overthrow of the caliphate, Cordova passed into the hands of various rulers. In the first half of the 13th century it was conquered and almost wholly destroyed by Ferdinand III. of Castile, a blow from which it never recovered. II. The province of Cordova, in the centre of Andalusia, divided into 15 districts, between lat. 37° 12' and 38° 44′ N. and long. 3° 56′ and 5° 32′ W., bounded N. by the provinces of Badajoz and Ciudad Real, E. by the province of Jaen, S. by Granada and Malaga, and W. by Seville and Badajoz, divided into 2 parts (Sierra and Campiña) by the river Guadalquivir, and traversed in the north by the Sierra Morena and the Sierra de Cordova; area, 6,177 sq. m.; pop. in 1857, 362,538. The prov ince is deficient in water, and produces only grain sufficient for local consumption, but yields wine, oil, fruits, hemp, flax, saffron, honey, and wax in great abundance. Fine mules, and some of the celebrated Andalusian horses, are bred in this province. Bees, game, fish, and cattle are plentiful. The annual product of the sale of pigs averages $40,000. There are 107 mines of coal, copper, iron, silver, lead, and argentiferous lead. About 4,000 lbs. of silk are annually produced, and this industry is increasing constantly. III. A city of the Argentine confederation, capital of a province of the same name, situated in a narrow valley on the little river Primero, 387 m. from Buenos Ayres, lat. 31° 35' S., long. 63° 50′ W.; pop. recently esti mated by Tschudi at 22,000 to 25,000. By its situation it is sheltered from the north and south winds, and, in consequence, enjoys a fine climate during the spring and autumn. In summer, however, it suffers much from the heat. The city is well built, and contains a fine cathedral, the convent of Santa Catalina, and several other interesting buildings, among which is a large university, erected by the Jesuits, which was formerly a celebrated seat of learning, but has since lost its reputation. The Jesuits also collected a fine library here, which, on their expulsion, was removed to Buenos Ayres. Cordova is the centre of communication between Buenos Ayres and the upper provinces.—Cordova the province is the second state in importance of the Argentine republic; bounded W. by Santiago del Estero, E. by Santa Fé, S.

by the Pampas, and W. by the provinces of Rioja, San Juan, and San Luis; pop. estimated by some authorities at 160,000, by others in 1855 at 90,000. (See ARGENTINE CONFEDERA TION.) The eastern and southern portions are barren and almost uninhabited; but the rest, especially the valleys of the mountains, are more fertile. The greater part, however, of the wheat consumed by the inhabitants is imported. Many small streams flow down from the Cordova mountains, but most of them are absorbed in the desert. The Tercero, during the rainy season, however, flows into the Carcarañial, and thus into the Parana. The rais ing of cattle and sheep is the occupation of the greater part of the inhabitants, who live not so much in towns as in the country. Tschudi, the famous traveller, has recently published interesting accounts of the ornithology of Cordova and of its increasing coasting trade. IV. Capital of the district of Cordova, in the Mexican state of, and 57 m. from the city of Vera Cruz, at the foot of the volcano of Orizaba; pop. about 6,500. It is well built, possesses a fine cathedral and a naval academy, has manufactories of cotton, woollen stuff, and leather, and trades in sugar, cotton, and tobacco, the adjoining country being very productive, especially in the latter article.

CORDOVA, FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ DE, a Spanish navigator, born in the latter part of the 15th century, died in 1518. He was the discoverer of Yucatan, which he visited in 1517, and had several encounters with the natives. He lost some of his men, and two were taken prisoners and carried up the country. Shortly after his return to Cuba he died but the account he gave of his discoveries led to a new expedition under Juan de Grijalva, to whom was subsequently assigned the honor of the discovery.

CORDOVA, José M., a South American general, born at Antioquia, New Granada, about 1797, slain Oct. 17, 1829. At the age of 15 he left his father, who belonged to the Spanish party, and joined a band of guerrillas, among whom he soon became noted for his intrepidity in their contests with the Spaniards. At the battle of Boyaca, Aug. 8, 1819, he won the rank of colonel. Not long after he was appointed general, and distinguished himself at the battle of Ayacucho, after which he was made general of division on the field. In Sept. 1828, he be came head of the war department of the republic of Colombia, under Bolivar, but, a year afterward, revolted against him. He found but few adherents, however, and being attacked, Oct. 17, by a force greatly superior to his own, was slain with most of his followers.

CORDOVA, LUIS FERNANDEZ DE, a Spanish general, born in Cadiz in 1799, died in Lisbon, April 29, 1840, took a prominent part in the movement of 1820 as a constitutionalist, and in that of July 7, 1822, as an absolutist. He officiated afterward on diplomatic missions abroad, and eventually deserting the forlorn cause of

Don Carlos, he espoused that of Christina and Isabel, took a distinguished part in the battle of Mendigorria, was appointed commander-inchief of the Christinos as successor of Valdez, but unable to finish the war, he was driven from office after the movement of 1836, and fled to France, whence he soon returned to Spain. He now conspired with the party of Narvaez against Espartero, but retired to Portugal when the latter came into power.-FERNANDO FERNANDEZ DE, a Spanish general and statesman, brother of the preceding, born in Madrid in 1792, entered the military service in 1810, and was rapidly promoted during the war with Napoleon. In 1841 he was implicated with Gen. Concha in the movement instigated by O'Donnell against Espartero. In 1847 he officiated for a short time as minister of war, and was appointed inspecting general of the infantry. Two years afterward he was sent to Gaeta in Italy at the head of an army to aid in the restoration of the pope. On March 8, 1850, he was nominated captain-general of New Castile, in the following year to the same position in Cuba, and in 1853 general-in-chief of the cavalry. Immediately after the outbreak of the revolution of 1854, he was called upon by Queen Isabel to form a new cabinet. This he declined, but he ordered his soldiers to fire upon the insurgents, and when the latter proved victorious, he fled to France in the night of July 27. In 1856 he returned to Spain, and was reinstated in his position of general, without, however, resuming active service.

CORDOVAN, a kind of fine leather, takes its name from Cordova in Spain, where it was originally made by the Moors. It is now made principally in the Barbary states.

COREA, a kingdom on the E. coast of Asia, N. E. of China; area about 90,000 sq. m.; pop. from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000. It comprises a peninsula 400 m. long and 150 broad, the islands adjacent, and a part of the neighboring continent. Total length of the country from N. to S. somewhat less than 600 m., between lat. 33° 20′ and 43° N. The coast is rugged and barren, and the N. portion cold and mountainous, but in the W. part the climate is more genial and the soil more fertile. It produces fruits, cotton, wheat, rice, millet, tobacco, ginseng, hemp, and legumes. There are mines of gold, silver, iron, copper, and coal, and rock salt is also found, but the inhabitants are mostly occupied with agriculture and the raising of cattle and horses. Cotton, silk, arms, and paper are manufactured. Paper they use for hats, umbrellas, and cloaks, and for various other purposes, and large quantities of it are exported to China. The only foreign trade is that carried on with China and Japan, and this is not very extensive. There are some disciples of a religion similar to that of the Sin-tu in Japan, and some followers of Confucius, but the predominant religion is Buddhism. The government is despotic, and though tributary to China and Japan, the freedom of its action is uncontrolled. The army of