ADMINISTRATION OF BOLIVIA. 393 



remember that the ancient province of C h areas, that is to say, the whole of 

 Bolivia, was comprised within its jurisdiction in colonial times. 



In the direction of Paraguay, the towns of the Bolivian sierra are still con- 

 nected only by tracks crossing the forests and savannas, although the distance in 

 a straight line scarcely exceeds 400 miles. Obstacles, such as swamps and rocks, 

 might easily be turned, for in this low water-parting between the Plate and 

 Amazons there are no large rivers. The thorny scrub, which in many places 

 forms an impassable barrier for ordinary wayfarers, would present no difficulty 

 for railway " navvies." Here the Pilcomayo might at first sight seem to offer the 

 natural highway for the passenger and transit trade between Bolivia and the 

 lower Paraguay ; but the Pilcomayo is not a navigable river, as was discovered 

 by Ore vaux, Thuar and several other recent explorers. 



YIII. 



A DMIN ISTRATION. 



Bolivia, which was constituted an independent state in 1825, under the 

 name of the *' Bolivar Republic," had placed itself under the special protec- 

 tion of the " Good Father," as the '* Liberator " was called. He was not only 

 entrusted with the supreme power as President, but was also invited to draft a 

 social contract at his own pleasure. Thus was issued under his direct inspiration 

 the " Bolivian Code," that is to say, the National Constitution, which he intended 

 to become the Magna Charta of a universal confederacy of the South American 

 republics. It was in reality, under a new and complicated form, an organised 

 system of hereditary power, in a word a monarchy in disguise. 



The Chamber of Tribunes, named by certain electors in the second degree, 

 was to vote the laws relating to finance, peace and war; while the Chamber of 

 Senators, elected by the same voters for eight years, would occupy itself mainly 

 with questions of jurisprudence and religion. But in case of collision between 

 these two elected bodies, a third body called the Chamber of Censors, whose 

 members were to be elected for life, was to interpret the meaning of the Con- 

 stitution, and recall the other Chambers to a sense of duty, respect for laws and 

 treaties. 



The president, on his part, also elected for life, would be assisted in his func- 

 tions by a vice-president chosen by himself and designated beforehand as his 

 successor. In 1836 the Bolivian Congress voted by acclamation the Code brought 

 forward by the dictator ; which, however, was very far from realising the expecta- 

 tions of its promoters. In none of the Hispano-American states, so often con- 

 vulsed by civil strife, have political murders been more numerous than in 

 Bolivia. 



At present the Bolivian Government, like that of the other South American 

 republics, comprises three distinct and nominally independent centres of authority, 



