URUGUAY: South American republic; bounded on the north by Brazil, on the east by Brazil and the Atlantic, on the south by the Atlantic and the Rio de la Plats, on the west by the Argentine Republic; area, including the islands, 72,151 square miles; population in 1907 estimated at 950,000. As a result of the war of independence between what is now the Argentine Republic and Spain, what is now Uruguay, then known as the Bands Oriental, came into possession of Brazil; during 1825-28 the inhabitants fought for independence, which they finally won and the republic was organized in 1830. Ethnically the people are mestizos, Indians, and settlers from Europe, Brazil, and the Argentine Republic. The population is almost entirely Roman Catholic, which is the state religion, though there is toleration for other faiths.. The country forms a Roman Catholic diocese, erected July 15, 1878, with Montevideo, the capital, as see city; it has as auffragan bishoprics Melo and Salto, and there are 40 parishes with 18 subordinate parishes, served by 130 priests. The Protestants number about 5,500. Among these are Swiss Germans, who have two organized churches, one in Montevideo and the other in Nueva Helvetia, each of the communities having a school, and combining in the Evangelical La Plats Synod under the Berlin Superior Church Council. The Anglican church has about 1,800 adherents. The Methodists are also in the country, being derived from the United States. There is a church of the SValdensian settlers, using the French language. Education is well cared for, being free and compulsory, with nearly 900 schools,

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and there is a university at the capital, with faculties in law, medicine, and mathematics.

(Wilhelm Gotz†.)

Bibliography: F. Bauaa, Historia de la Domination es paoola en el Uruguay, Montevideo, 1880; R. P. Lomba, La Republica Oriental del Uruguay, Montevideo, 1884; E. J. M. Clemens, La Plats Countries, Philadelphia, 1888; H. Rumbold, The Great Silver River, London, 1888; F. Vincent. Round and About South America, New York, 1890; Uruguay; its Geography, History, Industries, Liver pool, 1897; A. H. Keane, in Stanford's Compendium of Geography and Travel, London, 1901; T. C. Dawson, The South American Republics. New York, 1903; P. F. Martin, Through Five Republics, London, 1905,