URUGUAY, or Banda Oriental, a republican state of South America, bounded on the N. and N.E. by Brazil, S.E. by the Atlantic Ocean, S. by the River La Plata, and W. by the Uruguay river, separating it from the Argentine Confederation. It lies between 30° 5' and 34° 56' S. Lat., and 53° 10' and 58° 20' W. Long.; and is about 360 miles in length from N.W. to S.E., by 300 in extreme breadth; area 72,000 square miles. The surface is generally elevated and undulating, consisting of extensive plains intersected by ranges of hills of moderate elevation, and by gently sloping valleys. The principal river in the state is the Rio Negro, which divides it into two nearly equal portions. The southern portion is traversed by a range called the Cochilla Grande, which forms the watershed between the La Plata and the Rio Negro. It enters the state from the north-east, and, after running in a south-westerly direction for some distance, it divides into two branches which terminate in the west of the state. It sends off numerous ramifications, many of which terminate rather abruptly on the banks of the Paraguay and the La Plata. In the northern portion of the state is a range called the Cochilla del Hedo, which, entering from the north, proceeds southward for some distance, and then divides into a number of arms. The country is watered by numerous streams, but none of them are of great size except the La Plata and Uruguay, which form its south and western boundaries; the Rio Negro; and the Guay, which bounds it upon the north. Little is known of the geology of the country; the prevailing rocks, however, are granite, gneiss, limestone, and clay-slate. Gold and silver are said to be found, and copper has been successfully worked. The climate is mild, equable, and healthy, but during the winter a good deal of rain falls in the valleys and on the low plains. The winter extends from May to October; but very little snow falls, though frost is occasionally felt in July and August. The country is fertile, but is mostly covered with rich pasture, supporting immense herds of horses and cattle, which constitute the chief wealth of the inhabitants. Timber is scarce, and chiefly to be met with on the banks of the larger rivers. Though capable of easy cultivation, agriculture is almost entirely neglected. Wheat, maize, barley, rice, cotton, flax, hemp, peas, beans, melons, the sugar-cane, vine, &c., are grown. Few or none of these products find their way out of the country, the chief exports being hides, skins, hair, horns, bones, jerked-beef, and tallow. The manufactures are confined to rude articles for domestic use. Monte Video, the capital, is the centre of the foreign trade. The total number and tonnage of vessels that entered and cleared at the port in 1852, 1854, 1856, and 1858, were as follows:

| Year | Entered | Cleared | |------|---------|---------| | | Vessels | Tonnage | Vessels | Tonnage | | 1852 | 518 | 107,586 | 498 | 102,281 | | 1854 | 581 | 124,825 | 518 | 109,365 | | 1856 | 718 | 122,061 | 673 | 124,453 | | 1858 | 936 | 186,699 | 922 | 183,290 | The value of exports to the principal countries with which trade is carried on were, in 1858, as follows:—Britain and colonies, L235,275; France, L203,668; Spain, L100,340; Sardinia, L142,885; Belgium, L89,967; United States, L130,023; Brazil, L196,266; Buenos Ayres, L54,468.

Uruguay is an integral republic, having a president elected for four years, a senate of ten, and a representative chamber of thirty-nine members. For administrative purposes it is divided into thirteen provinces—viz., Monte Video, Maldonado, Canelones, San Jose, Florida, Colonia del Sacramento, Soriano, Paysandu, Salto, Tacuarimbo, Carro-Largo, Minas, Durazno. Estimated population (1859) 215,000; Monte Video, the capital, contains about 35,000 inhabitants. The revenue of the state was, in the budget for 1856, estimated at L426,500; the expenditure at L656,100. The total public debt in 1854 was L9,500,000.

Banda Oriental was, during the Spanish rule, the name of that portion of the vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres which lay to the east of the river Uruguay, and comprehended the present Uruguay and the territory formerly known as the Seven Missions. When Buenos Ayres declared itself independent of Spain, Banda Oriental formed a part of the new republic. In 1821, however, it was taken possession of by Brazil, and united with that state under the name of Provincia Cisplatina. By the treaty of 1828 between La Plata and Brazil, the northern portion of Banda Oriental, or the Seven Missions, was united to Brazil, and the southern and larger portion formed into the republic of Uruguay. Internal wars, however, and contests with Buenos Ayres, have almost ceaselessly disturbed the peace, and injured the prosperity of the state down to this time.

URUGUAY River. See PLATA, RIO DE LA.