GUATEMALA 



2G33 



GUAVA 



a.--, the Toltecs or Aztecs of Mexico (see 

 AZTEC). There are a number of Spanish-Ameri- 

 cans, Germans and other foreigners, but the 

 foreign population does not greatly exceed 

 12,000; nearly all the remainder are half- 

 castes. 



Although, as in all other Central American 

 countries, the natives are shiftless and lazy. 

 Guatemala has the best system of education 

 in the Central American states. Education 

 is free and compulsory. To bring people of 

 other lands to the country immigration is en- 

 couraged by free distribution of uncultivated 

 lands to immigrants. The prevailing religion is 

 Roman Catholic, but all creeds are tolerated. 

 Spanish is very generally spoken. 



The government of Guatemala is in the 

 hands of a President and his Cabinet, a Na- 

 tional Assembly and a Council of State. A 

 Constitution, adopted in 1879, is the basic law 

 of the republic. For administration of govern- 

 ment, Guatemala is divided into twenty-three 

 departments, or small states. 



History. The history of Guatemala is prac- 

 tically a part of that of all Central America 

 (see CENTRAL AMERICA). It formed a part of 

 Spanish territory, became free in 1821, and for 

 a short time belonged to Mexico. It joined 

 with the other states in the Confederation of 

 Central America, but, has been independent 

 since 1833. 



Guatemala, or Guatemala la Nueva, some- 

 times also called SANTIAGO DE GUATEMALA, is 

 the capital of the republic and its commercial 

 center. The city is situated in a rich plain 



A SCHOOLHOUSE IN GUATEMALA 

 The walls are built of upright poles fastened 

 together with ropes made by women from hemp 

 or leaves. The steep roofs are thatched. The 

 single room of such a building usually has no 

 door. 



eighty-five miles from the Pacific coast and 

 about 5,000 feet above the sea. As it is located 

 in the earthquake section of the country, most 

 of the houses are of one story, therefore the 

 city, with a population of over 90,000 in 1917, 

 covers a comparatively large area. 



The present city is the third to bear the 

 name, and it will be given to a fourth, for on 

 December 26 and 27, 1917, the town was prac- 

 tically destroyed by a series of earthquakes, and 

 80,000 of its people were rendered homeless. 

 Rebuilding began as soon as conditions per- 

 mitted. Before this last visitation Guatemala 

 was a rather handsome tropical city. The chief 

 place of interest was the great square, in which 



FORMER ROYAL PALACE 

 This building yet stands, at Antigua. It is an 

 impressive reminder of the splendor of the ancient 

 capital. 



were located the old viceregal palace, the gov- 

 ernment offices, the cathedral, the archbishop's 

 palace, the barracks, several schools and most of 

 the stores. Public libraries were maintained, 

 and there were hospitals, a national palace and 

 theaters. M.S. 



Consult Wintejis- Guatemala and her People 

 of To-day; Fife's Guatemala and the States of 

 Central America. 



GUAVA, gwah'vah, a small tree or shrub at 

 one time known only in tropical Asia, but now 

 cultivated and a source of income in the 

 Southern United States. It is esteemed for its 

 edible fruit, especially valuable for jellies and 

 preserves. The species most commonly grown 

 in Florida and the Indies is the lemon (junrii. 

 It grows about twenty feet high, and ihr 

 numerous branches bear blunt leaves two or 

 three inches long. Following white fragrant 

 flowers the fruits appear roundish or oblong, 

 smooth, yellow, and about the size of a hen's 

 egg. The firm, flesh-colored, sweetish-sour pulp 

 is filled with horny seeds. The thin, brittle 

 rind, stewed with milk, makes a marmalade. 



From over 15,000 guava trees in bearing in 

 Florida and California about 355,000 pounds of 

 fruit are produced yearly, valued at over $11,- 

 500. Florida leads in the production of this 

 fruit. A red guava, bearing a beautiful, red- 

 fleshed fruit, grows in the Indies, but is less 



