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The ISO (International Standards Organisation) assigns a two character code to each country name. These codes are used by Internet 'whois' databases (these two character abbreviations are the whois country codes) and also other applications.
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Holly (Ilex) is a genus of plants of the family Aquifoliaceae, embracing a number of evergreen trees or shrubs. The common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is common in Britain and the Continent of Europe. It is a conical evergreen tree growing to a height of ten metres in Britain. It's leaves are dark- green, shiny and leathery, abundantly armed with prickles on the lower branches but free from them on the higher branches. The flowers are white, appearing in May; the fruit is red, ripening in September, and remaining on the tree all the winter.
A good many varieties are known, distinguished by the shape and colour of the leaves, which are sometimes spotted or edged with yellow, etc. It is excellently adapted for hedges and fences, as it bears clipping. The wood is hard and white, and is employed for turnery work, knife handles, etc. The bark yields a mucilaginous substance, from which birdlime is made.
Among the Romans it was customary to send boughs of holly to friends, with new-year's gifts, as emblematical of good wishes; and it is used to decorate houses at Christmas.
The American holly (Ilex opaca} is widely diffused throughout the United States. It sometimes attains the height of 25 meters, with a trunk one meter in diameter. The Ilex glabra is another species of holly, inhabiting the coast regions of the United States. Its leaves furnished the 'black drink' which used to hold an important place in Indian ceremonies. The mate or Paraguay tea-plant is a species of holly (Ilex Paraguayensis).
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The margay (Felis tigrina) is a small wild cat with a spotted coat. It inhabits forest regions from Mexico to Paraguay.
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The oven-bird (Furnarius) is a small, South American insectivorous Passerine bird so called from its nest which is made of mud and straw in any exposed location and completely closed except for a small entrance which leads into a passage half separated by a partition from the main chamber where the eggs are laid. The best known species is the red oven-bird (Furnarius rufus) found in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
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Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer. He was born in 1507 and died in 1559. He went with Narvaez to Florida in 1527, and accompanied him on his westward march and voyage. He was wrecked near Matagorda Bay in Texas, captured by Indians among whom he became a medicine-man, and after finally escaping reached Mexico and discovered the Rio Grande. Afterwards he was the first European to explore Paraguay.
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The Guarani are South American aborigines found in central and south Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay.
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Jose Gaspar Rodriguez Francia was Dictator of Paraguay. He was born about 1758 and died in 1840. He was for some time a theological professor, and afterwards gained distinction as an advocate at Asuncion. In 1811, when Paraguay gained independence from Spain, he became secretary of the junta appointed by congress. In 1814 he was appointed dictator for three years, and in 1817 he was continued in authority for life. He did much to consolidate the new republic; but his rule was arbitrary in the extreme. In spite of his cruelty and rigour he was generally beloved by his subjects.
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Pedro II was emperor of Brazil. He was born in 1825 and died in 1891. The son of Pedro I, he succeeded to the throne at the age of five, on his father' s abdication, and was subject to a regency until he reached his majority in 1840. In 1843 he married Teresa Christina, the daughter of King Frances I of the Two Sicilies.
The early years of his reign were marked by revolts in various parts of the country. Pedro II had a lifelong interest in science and was a patron of the arts. He opposed slavery, which he gradually phased out of Brazilian life - outlawing the slave trade in 1850, initiating a process of emancipation in 1871, and finally abolishing slavery altogether in 1888. He opened the Amazon to the commerce of all nations in 1867. He visited the United States in 1876 and aided President Grant in opening the Centennial Exhibition.
Under his rule Brazil fought a costly but successful war with Paraguay, gaining some territory as a result. Although impartial toward Brazil's rival political groups, Pedro II's use of the wide powers given to him by the imperial constitution caused resentment, which, along with dissatisfaction among slave owners, led to his overthrow and the establishment of a republic in 1889.
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The Toba (Pitilaga) are an aboriginal people around the Pilcomayo River in Argentina. Of Guaycuru stock, they are tall and muscular, hostile to outsiders, superb horsemen, and use spears for fishing. They wear paint and feather-ornament rather than clothing.
They survive by hunting and fishing and have a reputation as a fierce, war-like race. In 1882 they massacred Crevaux and his followers who were attempting to open up the Pilcomayo route between Bolivia and Paraguay.
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The Chaco War was waged between Bolivia and Paraguay from 1932 to 1935. The
Chaco War was over disputed boundaries in the north of Gran Chaco. It was settled by arbitration in 1938.
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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