By a treaty concluded in February, 1899, the Caroline Islands, the Western Carolines or Pelew Islands, and the Marianne or Ladrone Islands (excepting Guam), were sold by Spain to Germany for 25,000,000 pesetas—the peseta being equivalent to a fraction less than twenty cents. Spain reserved the right to establish and maintain naval and mercantile stations in the islands, and to retain them in case of war. Spanish trade and privileges for the Spanish religious orders are guaranteed against interference. CARROLL, Henry K.: Report on Porto Rico. See (in this volume) PORTO RICO: A. D. 1898-1899 (AUGUST-JULY). CASSATION, The Court of. The French Court of Appeals. See (in this volume) FRANCE: A. D. 1897-1899. CASTILLO, Pedro Lopez de: Letter to the soldiers of the American army. See UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A. D. 1898 (AUGUST 21). CATALOGUE, International, of Scientific Literature. See (in this volume) SCIENCE, RECENT: SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. CATALONIA: Independent aspirations in. See (in this volume) SPAIN: A. D. 1900 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER). CATASTROPHES, Natural: A. D. 1894. Late in December, the orange groves of Florida were mostly destroyed or seriously injured by the severest frost known in more than half a century. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. On January 8, a severe earthquake shock was felt at Meshed, Kelat and other Persian towns, causing over 1,100 deaths. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. In March, the Tigris overflowed its banks, causing incalculable loss of life and property in Mesopotamia. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. A succession of earthquake shocks in March, 1896, did great damage at Santiago, Valparaiso, and other parts of Chile. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. On May 15, a cyclone destroyed part of the town of Sherman, in Texas, killing more than 120 persons, mostly negroes. The same day a waterspout burst over the town of Howe in the same state, killing 8 people. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. On May 27, a fierce cyclone swept the city of St. Louis, Missouri, completely devastating a large part of the city, and causing great loss of life and property. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. A destructive wave swept the Japanese coast in June. See (in this volume) JAPAN: A. D. 1896. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896. On July 26, a tidal wave, 5 miles in width, inundated the coast of Kiangsu, in China, destroying many villages and more than 4,000 inhabitants. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1896-1897. A severe famine prevailed in India from the spring of 1896 until the autumn of 1897. See (in this volume) INDIA: A. D. 1896-1897. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897. A severe earthquake occurred at the island of Kishm in the Persian Gulf, in January, causing great loss of life. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897.