In February, 1885, the President of Guatemala, believing that he was in accord with the sentiments of the people of the other republics, proclaimed the union of the five Central American republics, but meeting with resistance in Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, his purpose could not be realized. could not be realized. Barrios was killed at the head of his army, on the 2d of April, 1885, before the fortifications of Chalchuapa on the border of Salvador.

The government of Gen. Barrios inaugurated in the country an era of reforms and progress. The education of the people was the object of his particular solicitude. He founded in the capital, at Quezaltenango and at Chiquimula, normal, agricultural, art, and trade schools and colleges, as well as a large number of primary and evening schools for the working classes. Believing that agriculture is the principal source of wealth of a country, he endeavored to promote its development. An excellent mail and telegraph service was regularly organized throughout the country. New codes of liberal laws were adopted, railways were constructed, tramways and carriage roads were built, electric lights were introduced in the capital, and banks were established in the country.

In consequence of the death of Gen. Barrios, the presidency by right reverted to the Vice-President, Mr. Alejandro M. Sinibaldi; but the latter, whose inclinations kept him away from public affairs, resigned in favor of the second Vice-President, Manuel L. Barillas.

Gen. Barillas, a member of a distinguished family of Quezaltenango, was one of the largest coffee planters in the country. He had filled several important political posts, and for a number of years was the civil and military governor of the department of Quezaltenango. On the 15th of March, 1886, the unanimous vote of his countrymen raised him to the constitutional presidency.

department of that name. From numerous meteorological observations, the maximum temperature is 88° F., the minimum 38° F., and the average 65° F. The barometer shows an average rise of 6.41 millimeters.

The mountainous system of Guatemala includes: (1) The Cordilleras of the Andes, crossing the Republic from the northwest to the southeast, parallel with the Pacific Ocean, which is 40 miles distant. The highest peak is 14,625 feet above sea level, and the average height of the chain is 7,470 feet.

(2) The Sierra Madre, a range of the Cordilleras, detached from the volcano of Tacana, which, following an irregular line, crosses the departments of Huehuetenango, of Totonicapan, and of Alta Verapaz, projects into the territory of Belize and ends on the Atlantic coast.

(3) The Sierra de Chama, a range of the Sierra Madre, while passing through the department of Verapaz, follows a tortuous line toward the east, and after crossing the territory of Belize ends on the coast.

(4) The Sierra de Santa Cruz, a range of the Sierra de Chama, follows along the banks of the Carabon and Polochic rivers, continues north of Lake Izabal, and disappears in the gulf of Amatique, between Cocoli Point, the Sarstoon River, and the Rio Dulce.

(5) The Sierra de Las Minas (or Mico Mountain) begins at the Sierra Madre, north of Coban, to the point where it detaches itself from the Chama Mountains, follows toward the south; thence, after having made an extensive turn, rises again toward the east between the Polochic and Motagua, passes south of Lake Izabal and ends between the Bay of San Tomas and the Motagua on the Atlantic Ocean.

(6) The Sierra de Copan, a spur of the Cordilleras, crosses the department of Santa Rosa west of the lagoon of Ayarsa, rises again toward the north, makes a curve between the city of Esquipulas