Chili

(chil'e,) (sometimes written CHILE), a S.W. republic of S. America, forming a long, narrow strip of country lying between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, embraced between Lat. 25° 20′ to 42° S., and Lon. 70° and 74° W. Length, N. to S., 1,150 m.; mean breadth,from 110 to 120 m. C. is bounded N. by Bolivia; E. by the Argentine Republic and the Andes; S.E. and S. by Patagonia and the Gulf of Ancud, separating it from Chiloe; andW.by the Pacific. Area, 132,624 sq. m. C. is divided into15provinces, and has, besides, Juan Fernandez and other islands in the Pacific Ocean belonging to her. Desc. The backbone of this country is found in the Great Cordillera of the Andes, here attaining an average height of 14,000 ft., many of whose peaks are volcanic, notably that of Aconcagua, (the highest Andean summit,) which has an altitude of 23,910 feet above the sea. The coast-line presents steep and rocky shores, broken into by some excellent harbors. The rivers and lagoons are so small as to be undeserving of mention. Climate healthy, taken as a whole; a scarcity of rain is, however, often felt. Earthquakes are of common occurrence; the last great shock of this kind doing much damage in Aug. 1868. C. is one bed of metals: silver, gold, lead, and iron are found largely and worked; copper, however, is the principal resource of the national wealth, and is mined by English men on an immenso scale. Sulphur, antimony, zinc, manganese, alum, nitre, salt, coal, ., are other mineral items which influence a large exportation. The soil is of varying fertility, fattening most towards the S. and the foot-hills of the Andes, where luxuriant vegetation flourishes. Many hard woods are made useful, instead of iron, and the fruits of the temperate zone thrive excellently. The Chileños are an industrious race, and have th riven greatly since their emancipation from Spanish rule: the bulk of commercial transactions is carried on with Great Britain. Chief cities and towns. Val para i so (the chief port), Santiago (the cap.), Valdivin, Concepcion, Talca. The govt. is formed on the constitution of 1833, and consists of 3 depts.- the executive, legislative, and judicial. The first is in the hands of a president, whose tenure of office is 5 years; the legislature consists of a senate and chamber of deputies. The state religion is the Roman Catholic: other religions are tolerated, but their public exercise is not allowed. C., before the Spanish irruption, belonged to the inc as of Peru; in 1535-1540, its whole extent, excepting only Araucania, was conquered by the lieutenants of Pizarro. It thenceforward became a Spanish colony, until 1817, when, after a 7 years' war with Spain, the victory of Maypu, gained by Gen. San Martin, secured the independence of the country. At the present time C. stands forward as the most flourishing, enlightened, and promising of all the so-called Hispafño-American republics. Pop. (including Patagonia, Araucania, Terra del Fuego, .,) 2,084,445. [s. 176]