COLOMBIA 



The Republic of Colombia. 440. ooo square miles in extent 

 and with a population of 5,000,000, occupies an advantageous 

 geographical and commercial position ; its coast is divided 

 by the [sthmus of Panama, facing both upon the Atlantic 

 (( laribbean) and Pacific Oceans, with about 1000 miles of coast- 

 line to »ach ocean. It is generally predicted that, as the Carib- 

 bean becomes more of a highway, due to the opening of the 

 Panama (anal, the commercial importance of Colombia will 

 increase. 



Two-fifths of the area of the country are taken up by very 

 broken mountainous territory, the Andes and its outliers, 

 where means of transport are difficult. 



The pastoral industries are of great importance in Colombia, 

 and might be very much extended. 



The cattle industry is probably Colombia's most important 

 agricultural pursuit to-day. and the Republic offers a promis- 

 ing source of supply for the future, as its cheap lands and cheap 

 labour are prominent factors which are bound to stimulate the 

 industry. Until very recently the country exported annually 

 large numbers of cattle to Cuba and Panama, and this foreign 

 trade, together with an increasing local consumption, so re- 

 duced the existing stock that all exports of cattle were stopped, 

 and large numbers were imported from Venezuela in order 

 that the country's own needs might be met. 



All the northern eoa-tal region is eminently suited for cattle- 

 raising, more so than any other part of the country ; the low 

 lands are covered with grass all the year round, and the higher 

 lands are also green for mos1 of the year, with the exception 

 of January, February, and March, which are the driest months 

 of the season. The pastures are of Para or Guinea grasses, 

 and the lands used for grazing are said to last for many years 



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