Excess Baggage Rates.-The rates for baggage in excess of the 44 pounds allowed free with each ticket are: Limon to San Jose, 7.43 colones per 100 pounds; San Jose to Limon, 9.70 colones. Samples carried by traveler, one-half of the above rates.

Advertising Matter. The rates of duty on advertising matter are as follows, in colones per kilogram gross weight: Electric advertising matter, 0.40; advertising matter on paper, 0.10; advertising, framed, with or without glass, 1.20; advertising matter on sheet iron, 0.08; advertising matter with name on frames, 0.40. There is a surtax of 5 percent of the duty on imports intended for the Province of Limon, or 2 percent on those destined to the central customhouse in San Jose, plus 1 percent of the declared value for consular impost, 0.02 per kilogram gross weight for wharfage, and 0.005 per kilogram gross weight for charitable purposes.

[Information regarding consular taxes on imports can be obtained upon application to the Division of Foreign Tariffs, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Washington, D. C.]

SALES TERRITORIES

Three places which practically all commercial travelers visit are Port Limon, on the Atlantic coast; San Jose, the capital, in the interior; and Puntarenas, the Pacific port. The most important business center is San Jose, where there are numerous wholesale houses; but good orders are also obtained in Port Limon, where there are a number of important firms. Puntarenas has a number of good-sized commercial houses. Salesmen in certain lines find it advisable to visit the smaller places. Some dealers in Costa Rica import direct from the United States, instead of depending entirely upon the wholesale houses of Port Limon or San Jose; therefore, their business should also be solicited by representatives of American houses.

The headquarters of agents, almost without exception, are in San Jose, from where periodical trips are made to other trade centers.

Suggested Route.-Arrival via Port Limon, Atlantic coast; from there by Northern Railway to San Jose (a stop may be made at Cartago en route to or from San Jose); thence by rail, bus, or taxicab to Heredia and Alajuela; thence by Pacific Railway to Puntarenas. Other cities of the country may be readily reached from San Jose by air.

HINTS TO TRAVELERS

Best Visiting Time.-Usually governed by conditions prevailing in the different lines of trade. The most agreeable period is the dry season, from November to April. The period of greatest

prosperity is the last quarter of the year, when coffee comes into bearing. Merchants, as a rule, prefer to have their goods arrive somewhat in advance of the two principal holidays, Christmas and Easter.

Hotel Rates.-In San Jose the best hotels charge from $5 to $8 a day, American plan; second-class hotels charge from $2 to $3, American plan. In the smaller towns the rates for the best accommodations are considerably less, generally from $1 to $2 a day, American plan.

Holidays. Many feast days are observed. Generally speaking, business is suspended on holidays officially recognized. The following are national holidays: January 1, New Year's Day; March 19, St. Joseph's Day; Holy Thursday; Good Friday; April 11, Battle of Rivas; May 1, Surrender of General Walker; August 15, Assumption Day; September 15, Independence Day; October 12, Discovery of America; December 8, Immaculate Conception; December 25, Christmas Day; and on December 29, 30, and 31, the banks are usually closed.

Currency and Exchange.-The unit of currency in Costa Rica is the colon. Conversion of notes into gold was suspended on September 18, 1914. Since 1932, official exchange control has been in effect, but in practice foreign exchange is readily available. The value of the colon in foreign exchange is fixed by the Banco Nacional. The rate of exchange for some time has stood at 5.61 colones to the United States dollar (1 colon= $0.17825).

CHIEF COMMERCIAL CENTERS

SAN JOSE.-Capital of the Republic, in Province of San Jose; population, 63,436; altitude, 3,850 feet; average temperature, 70° F. Located on the Pacific Railway and the Northern Railway (formerly known as Costa Rica Railway), 103 miles west of Limon and 71 miles east of Puntarenas. Products: Agricultural, coffee being the chief source of wealth, followed by cacao and sugarcane. Industries: Small shoe, furniture, and soap factories, and a small cotton mill.

How Reached. From Puntarenas, via Pacific Railway or airplane; from Limon, via Northern Railway or airplane; from Heredia, Cartago, and Alajuela, by automobile or railroad. Regular service by air from other sections of the country.

Hotels. Gran Hotel Costa Rica; Europa; Continental; Metropoli; Rex.

Banks. Anglo-Costarricense; Banco Nacional de Costa Rica; Banco de Costa Rica. Some of these banks have agencies in the other chief cities. Private bankers: Lyon Hnos. & Cia., Sucs. S. A.

Note. San Jose is situated in a broad, fertile valley, and has an excellent climate. It is the center of the commerce of the

Republic, and a considerable number of its wholesale houses canvass the country thoroughly. These firms all make direct importations, as do a large number of retail firms. Agencies are almost without exception established here. While in San Jose, the traveler can obtain information regarding vessels calling at either Puntarenas on the Pacific or at Port Limon on the Atlantic, from the agents of the steamship lines who have local offices. Seat of American legation.

LIMON.-Atlantic port, in Province of Limon; population, 8,568. On the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway, 103 miles east of San Jose; 1,380 nautical miles from New Orleans. Landing, direct from ship to pier. Products: Bananas, coconuts, cocao, rubber, pineapples, and cattle. Industries: Manufacturing has not been developed to any appreciable extent, shoemaking being the only manufacturing industry of any consequence.

How Reached.-From New York direct; from New Orleans, via the Panama Canal port of Cristobal, or Bocas del Toro, Panama, by United Fruit Co. steamers. From San Jose, by Northern Railway (6-hour trip).

Hotels.-Park; America.

Banks. Banco de Costa Rica; Lindo Bros.; F. J. Alvarado & Co.

Note.-Limon, chief port of Costa Rica and principal center of commercial activity on the east coast, owes its importance largely to the banana industry. About half of the Costa Rican coffee exports in recent periods have gone out through Limon. The Costa Rica Supply Co. maintains a large commissary here, and the city has a number of important commercial firms, many of which do direct importing. Limon is but an overnight sail from Colon, and many tourists en route to the Canal Zone include it in their itinerary. American consular office.

HEREDIA.-Capital of Province of Heredia; population, 9,C83; on the railroad, about 6 miles west of San Jose; average temperature, 72° F. Principal industry, cattle raising.

How Reached.-From San Jose, by the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway; from Puntarenas, by the Pacific Railway. A good automobile road connects Heredia with San Jose.

Hotel.-Central.

Note. The enterprising little city of Heredia is located so near to San Jose that it is largely dependent upon the latter center for supplies. Salesmen who wish to canvass the small places will find Heredia convenient to visit. Other towns nearby, with their populations, are San Isidro (1,400), San Antonio de Belen (1,600), Barba (850), Santa Barbara (950), Santo Domingo (2,600), and San Rafael (1,600).

ALAJUELA.—Province of Alajuela; population, 8,677; on the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway, 14 miles west of San Jose; climate, subtropical. Principal products: Coffee, sugar, fruits, livestock products, timber.

How Reached.-From San Jose, by the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway and the Pacific Railway, or by automobile and bus; from Puntarenas, by the Pacific Railway.

Hotel.-America.

Bank.-Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.

Note.-Alajuela is easily accessible from San Jose. It is the center of the sugar trade, and is visited by salesmen who canvass closely. Nearby towns, with estimated populations, are Grecia (2,800), San Ramon (2,800), San Pedro (1,400), Naranjo (4,500), Atenas (1,700), Palamares (1,400), San Mateo (2,200), Orotina (2,300). The gold mines of Aguacate are a little north of Atenas.

CARTAGO.—Province of Cartago; population, 8,206; altitude, 4,930 feet. On the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway, at the southern base of Irazu Volcano (11,500 feet); 13 miles east of San Jose and 92 miles west of Limon. Temperature averages 68° F. Principal products: Coffee, cattle, fibers, vegetables, and fruits.

How Reached.-From San Jose and from Port Limon via the Northern (Costa Rica) Railway, or by automobile and bus from San Jose, passing en route through several villages and some of the richest coffee estates in the country.

Hotels.-Frances; Chicago.

Bank.-Credito Agricola de Cartago.

Note.-Cartago is a point of some importance, the center of one of the richest agricultural districts of Costa Rica. With its several suburbs, its population totals about 29,000. A fair volume of business is done in Cartago. There are hot springs at Aguas Calientes, 3 miles distant.

PUNTARENAS.-Province of Puntarenas; population, 7,377. Pacific port on Gulf of Nicoya, and terminus of the Pacific Railway. A modern pier several hundred feet long serves both passenger and freight ships. Located 71 miles west of San Jose, and about 460 miles from Panama City. Temperature averages 80° F. Products: Sugar, cattle, coconuts, mother-of-pearl, timber, dyewoods, hides and skins, fish.

How Reached.-From San Jose, via the Pacific Railway (trains daily, 4-hour journey); from Panama, by Grace Line and Pacific Steam Navigation Co.; and from San Francisco and Los Angeles, by Grace Line. Daily airplane service to San Jose.

Hotels. Imperial; Europa.
Bank.-Banco de Costa Rica.

Note.-Puntarenas is the only Pacific port of Costa Rica. A very fair volume of business is done, some excellent houses being located here. The wholesale houses of San Jose canvass Puntarenas frequently, and the southwestern part of Costa Rica is canvassed from this point. Shark and tuna fishing has recently developed in the area, attracting fishing vessels from the United States.

GUATEMALA

AREA, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CLIMATE

Area and Topography.-Guatemala, with an area of 42,364 square miles, lies just south of Mexico and has both an Atlantic and a Pacific seacoast. A mountain range parallels the Pacific coast from Mexico to El Salvador.

A plateau (elevation, 4,000 to 11,500 feet) forms the interior section of Guatemala. From the narrow Pacific coastal plain, mountains rise on the northeast to approximately 13,000 feet. The land lying on the northeastern or Atlantic side of the Divide is cut by transverse mountain ranges and descends more gradually to sea level. The Department of Peten, which extends wedge-like northward between Mexico and British Honduras, is for the most part a low, rolling plain. There are several active and semiactive volcanoes in the country. Rivers are numerous, those emptying into the Pacific being short, swift streams. The only river which has been used to any extent for navigation is the Polochic, which empties into the Atlantic via Lake Izabal and Rio Dulce.

Climate and Seasons. The climate of Guatemala varies considerably in different parts of the country, depending principally on the altitude. On the coastal plains it is tropical, and throughout the year it is hot and humid. In the highlands, where most of the population lives, the altitude is from about 3,000 to 8,000 feet and the climate is delightful throughout the year. The days are usually warm, but the nights are cool. The warmest months are normally March and April, but in Guatemala City the temperature rarely exceeds 85° F. and the minimum temperature in December and January is seldom below 45° F.

Guatemala has a pronounced rainy season, extending in the highlands from about the middle of May to the middle of November; in the coastal regions it is somewhat longer, especially on the Atlantic coast. During the rainy season showers occur almost daily, but there is seldom an all-day rain. Little rain falls in the dry season. The annual rainfall averages about 45 inches in Guatemala City but exceeds 200 inches in some other parts of the country.

POPULATION AND PURCHASING POWER

Population. The estimated population of Guatemala as of December 31, 1938, was 3,044,490, representing a gain of 1,039,590 as compared with 1921, the year of the last official census. A complete census of the country will be taken in April 1940.