ECONOMIC CONDITION OF GUAIEÎ^IALA. 



24a 



all religious orders was " nationalised '' in 1872, and in 1874 all nunneries were 

 suppressed except one. Some of the convents were used as schools or depots ; but 

 most of the ecclesiastical domains benefited the " politicians " alone, many of whom 

 suddenly found themselves in posses>ion of vast fortunes. 



Officially all citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are bound to military 

 service ; but the law exempts the only sons of widows, professors, officials, and all 

 capable of purchasing exemption by an annual pa^'ment of 50 dollars. Pure 



Fig. 103. — Political Divisions of Guatemala. 



Scale 1 : 4 500.000. 



120 Miles. 



Indians are not enrolled, but in time of war they are pressed into the transport 

 service. 



The yearly budget varies from £800,000 to over £1,000,000, mostly raised 

 from the customs levied on nearly all foreign imports, or derived from the excise 

 on the manufacture and sale of spirits. Most of the revenue is absorbed by the 

 army, though a yearly sum of £80,000 to £100,000 is devoted to public instruction. 



In 1890 the national debt was about £4,200,000, over half of which was due to 

 English capitalists. 



