at Arkansas Post, 1685. Admitted to the Union in 1836. mules, twenty-fifth in population. First settlement by the French ARKANSAS ranks fifth among the States in cotton, ninth in State religion is Lutheran, though complete toleration is cxtended to every sect. In 1880 only 17,526 persons did not belong to the Lutheran Church. Of this number 3,946 were Jews and 2,985 Roman Catholics. Government-Hereditary Limited Monarchy. Executive, the King and Ministry. Legislative, the Rigsdag, or Diet, composed of the Landsthing, or Upper House, with 66 members, and the Folkething, or House of Commons, with 102 members. Education-Elementary education is compulsory. The university at Copenhagen has about 1,300 students. There are 45 colleges and higher schools, and 2,940 parochial schools with 231,935 pupils. EUROPEAN RUSSIA is bounded on the east by Siberia and the Caspian Sea; on the south by Persia, the Black Sea, and Turkey; on the west by Austria, Germany, the Baltic Sea, and Sweden; and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. Religion-The established religion is the Russo-Greek. Protestants, 4,766,000; Roman Catholics, 8,910,000. Government-Absolute hereditary monarchy. Executive and legislative, the Czar. Administrative entrusted to four Councils, the Council of the Empire, the Ruling Senate, the Holy Synod, and the Committee of Ministers. Finland has a partly independent government-Grand Duke, the Czar. Education-Including Finland, there are 9 universities with 14,000 students, and 38,000 schools with 2,250,000 pupils. In 1882 only 19 per cent. of the Russian recruits could read and write. TURKEY IN EUROPE.-The Ottoman Empire in Europe now, strictly speaking, only comprises the immediate provinces, the remainder of its territory being divided among the independent and tributary states of the Balkan Peninsula. Religion— More than one-half of the population are Christians, chiefly belonging to the Greek Church; the remainder consist of Mohammedans, with a few Jews. Government-Absolute monarchy. The Sultan is ruler, and his will is absolute, in so far as it is not in opposition to the precepts of the Koran. The legislative and executive authority is exercised, under the supreme direction of the Sultan, by the Grand Vizier, the head of the temporal government, and the "Sheik-ul-Islam," the head of the church. GREECE is bounded on the north by Turkey in Europe; on the east by the Ægean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea; and on the west by Turkey and the Ionian Sea. ReligionGreek Orthodox Church with the exception of 46,000. Government--Limited monarchy. Executive, the King. Legislative, the Boulé (Chamber of Deputies) consisting of 150 representatives. Education-There are 2,600 schools attended by 140,000 pupils, and 1 university with 2,400 students. MALTA.--The Maltese group comprises the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Area-119 square miles (Malta, 95 square miles). Population-159,231 (excluding British soldiers). The Government is administered by a Governor, who is assisted by an Executive Council of 6 members, and by a Council of Government, 9 official and 8 elected members, of which the Governor is president. The British garrison consists of 5,216 British soldiers. GIBRALTAR.-This celebrated fortress, commanding the entrance to the Mediterranean, belongs to Great Britain, and is situated on a rocky promontory in the south of Spain. Area2 square miles. Population-1886 (including military), 24,139. The Governor in command of the garrison exercises all the executive and legislative authority. The garrison consists of 5,758 British soldiers. HELIGOLAND.-Two islands in the North Sea, 25 miles from the mouth of the Elbe. Area-Three-quarters square mile. Population-1881, 2,000. Religion-Lutheran. GovernmentBritish dependency, with a Governor assisted by an Executive Council. CYPRUS.-An island situated in the most eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Area-3,584 square miles. Population186,173. Religion-One-fourth Mohammedan, the remainder mainly of Greek Church. The Government of Cyprus is administered by Great Britain on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, the Legislature consisting of a High Commissioner, who is also Commander-in-Chief, with a Council of 18 members. Six members are non-elective, and three are chosen by the Mohammedan residents. Annual subsidy payable to Turkey, £92,800. There are a number of schools on the island; the Government grant in 1886-87, inclusive of that for building purposes, was £3,000. ICELAND. This island, belonging to Denmark, iies in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 miles west of Norway and about 250 miles east of Greenland. Area-39,566 square miles. Population-72,445. Religion-All Protestants, belonging to the Luth eran Church. Government-The Legislative power is vested in the Althing, consisting of 36 members, 30 elected by popular suffrage, and 6 nominated by the King of Denmark. A Minister for Iceland, nominated by the King and responsible to the Althing, is at the head of the administration; while the highest local authority is vested in the Governor, called Stiftamtmand, who resides at Reykjavik. Education-The natives are distinguished for their love of learning, and, notwithstanding their poverty and adverse circumstances, it is rare to find an Icelander who cannot read and write. There is a college at Reykjavik, |