numentos
y Artes, su Naturaleza e Historia, 1887; Compendio de Geografia
Militar de Espana y Portugal, 1882; Anuario de Comercio de Espana,
1896; Anuario Militar de Espana, 1898; Reclus, Nouvelle Geographic
Universelle, 1891; Advance Sheets American Consular Reports, 1898;
An Account of the Present State of the Island of Porto Rico, 1834;
The Statesman's Year Book, 1898.

Situation.--Porto Rico is situated in the Torrid Zone, in the
easternmost part of the Antilles, between latitude 17 deg. 54 min. and
18 deg. 30 min. 40 sec. N. and longitude 61 deg. 54 min. 26 sec. and
63 deg. 32 min. 32 sec. W. of Madrid. It is bounded on the north
by the Atlantic, on the east and south by the sea of the Antilles,
and on the west by the Mona Channel.

Size.--The island of Porto Rico, the fourth in size of the Antilles,
has, according to a recent report of the British consul (1897),
an extent of about 3,668 square miles--35 miles broad and 95 miles
long. It is of an oblong form., extending from east to west.

Population.--Porto Rico is the first among the Antilles in density of
population and in prosperity. The Statesman's Year Book, 1898, gives
the population (1887) at 813,937, of which over 300,000 are negroes,
this being one of the few countries of tropical America where the
number of whites exceeds that of other races. The whites and colored,
however, are all striving in the same movement of civilization, and
are gradually becoming more alike in ideas and manners. Among the
white population the number of males exceeds the number of females,
which is the contrary of all European countries. This is partly
explained by the fact that the immigrants are mostly males. On an
average the births exceed the deaths by double. The eastern portion
of the island is less populous than the western.

Soil.--The ground is very fertile, being suitable for the cultivation
of cane, coffee, rice, and other products raised in Cuba, which island
Porto Rico resembles in richness and fertility.

Climate.--The climate is hot and moist, the medium temperature reaching
104 degs. F. Constant rains and winds from the east cool the heavy
atmosphere of the low regions. On the heights of the Central Cordillera
the temperature is healthy and agreeable.

Iron rusts and becomes consumed, so that nothing can be constructed
of this metal. Even bronze artillery has to be covered with a strong
varnish to protect it from the damp winds.

Although one would suppose